Saving water nets more than karmic payback.

California American Water and Monterey Peninsula Water Management District are now offering homeowners plumper rebates for investments in water-conserving appliances and landscaping, including:

• $1.25 per square foot for lawn replaced with drought-tolerant plants or permeable surfaces (up to 5,000 square feet), and $2 per square foot for lawn replaced with artificial turf (up to 2,000 square feet);
  
• $100 for installation of a graywater system that irrigates the yard with wastewater from the laundry machine or bathtub;
  
• $25 per 100 gallons of rainwater storage, up to 25,000 gallons (up from a rebate limit of 3,000 gallons).

Commercial property owners can get in on the action, too, with conservation rebates covering:

• $300 for pint urinal installations (up from $250);
• $500 for water-efficient ice machines (up from $400);
• $2,500 for X-ray film processor recirculation systems (up from $2,000);
• Dry-vacuum pumps, high efficiency commercial dishwashers, graywater systems and high efficiency toilets;
  
• Medical steam sterilizer retrofits, high efficiency connectionless food steamers and pH controllers.

Property owners can apply for the rebates within 120 days of installation by submitting receipts and a rebate form at www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us. For lawn replacement rebates, contact the district at 658-5601 before removing the lawn to schedule a pre-inspection.

More info is at www.montereywaterinfo.org.