Cooling Towers

Fixed rebate option:

$1000 rebate toward the installation of sub-meters and a conductivity controller

OR


Variable rebate option:

$1 per thousand gallons saved over 5 years.


Cooling towers are used in many large buildings to remove the heat generated by computers, lights, people, etc., and can account for 40% or more of a building’s water use. However, advanced treatments and technologies can substantially reduce the water used, by thousands of gallons a day. As part of an effort to reduce potable water use Tampa Bay Water Wise is offering rebates for technology or treatments that increase the cycles of concentration (COC) in cooling towers from less than 3 to at least 6 COCs or more.

What do I need?

Before starting a project:

  • Contact Tampa Bay Water Wise Demand Management at (727) 791-2323 before starting your project to arrange a pre-inspection and ensure you get the maximum rebate.
  • Submit the Cooling Tower Rebate Application – Download the Cooling Tower Rebate Application

After project completion:

  • Submit W9 for the rebate recipient
  • Submit receipts for labor and materials (e.g. submeters, conductivity sensor/controller, programmable logic controller, etc.)

How Does it work?

Cooling towers cool down warm water from HVAC systems so that it can be reused in a building’s HVAC systems. During this process, some water must be flushed into the sewer system when it becomes too loaded with minerals (like calcium) and other impurities. Advanced treatments and technologies can reduce the amount of water flushed out by thousands of gallons of water every day, which can result in a million gallons or more of water saved every year.

Fixed Rebate: $1000 toward the installation of submeters on a cooling tower and a conductivity controller.

Variable Rebate: The rebate amount is based on the estimated water savings over five years, valued at $1 per thousand gallons. For example, if a project saves 7 million gallons over five years, it would earn a $7,000 rebate. For large projects with multiple towers and a total rebate value of $20,000 or more, half of the rebate will be paid upon project completion, and half will be issued after one year of savings are verified through metered data. If the actual savings are lower, a pro-rated amount of the rebate will be issued. Customers may request additional time to achieve the originally projected level of savings. The water savings of all projects will be tracked over time through metered data, regardless of the rebate amount.

Some projects may also be eligible for rebate funding through a partner program WISE from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Make sure to contact us before your project begins, and we will work together to help you get you the maximum rebate possible.

See all general and documentation requirements below.

What are the benefits?

Cooling towers account for 40% of a building’s water use on average, according to industry experts. Advanced treatments and technologies on a single cooling tower can save thousands of gallons of water every day, resulting in more than a million gallons of water saved every year.

  • Cooling tower upgrades saves water, energy and wastewater
  • Many advanced technologies will also help prolong the life of your cooling tower
  • The rebate is based on the volume of water saved, so the more water you save, the more money you save

General requirements

  • Applicant must be an existing potable water utility customer of the city of Tampa, city of St. Petersburg, city of New Port Richey, Pinellas County, Pasco County or Hillsborough County.
  • Existing property must be using an operable, potable water-based cooling tower with current cycles of concentration(COCs) at 3 or less.
  • Pre- and post- inspections are required.
  • Cooling tower units must have the following hardware, either before or after technology/treatment is applied. Proof of these items are required though copies of receipts if they are purchased, or by photo/visual inspection by Tampa Bay Water Wise if they are already in place before technology/treatment is applied.
    o Units shall have at least 2 water submeters to measure makeup water and blowdown water.
    o Units shall have a conductivity sensor and controller installed for conductivity monitoring.
  • Technology/treatment applied must result in 6 COCs or more. Any type of technology/treatment is allowable with demonstrated water savings, and may be one of the following:
    o Water treatment or cooling tower technology
    o Recommissioning
    o New, replacement cooling tower
    o Pre-approved technologies:
  • Technology Type  Proprietary (y/n) Vendor Name  3rd Party Testing
     Advanced Oxidation Process  Yes  Silver Bullet  National Renewal Laboratory. (2020). GSA Guidance–Alternative Water Treatment Systems for Cooling Towers
     Chemical Scale Inhibition  Yes  Terlyn
     Electrochemical Water Treatment  Yes  Dynamic Water Technologies
     Salt-based System  Yes  WCTI

    To add your technology/treatment to the pre-approved list, an independent, third party verification is required (such as through a university, national lab, or other entity). Verification will be determined on a case by case basis.
  • To add your technology/treatment to the pre-approved list, an independent, third party verification is required (such as through a university, national lab, or other entity). Verification will be determined on a case by case basis.
  • Applicant agrees to Customer Agreement (see below)

Document requirements

Before starting a project:

  • Contact Tampa Bay Water Wise Demand Management at (727) 791-2323 before starting your project to arrange a pre-inspection and ensure you get the maximum rebate.
  • Submit the Cooling Tower Rebate Application – Download the Cooling Tower Rebate Application. Estimated water savings and project costs are required in this application, as well as signatures.

After project completion:

  • W9 of rebate recipient
  • Receipts for labor and materials (e.g. submeters, conductivity sensor/controller, programmable logic controller, etc.)
  • If rebate is payable to an authorized representative of the building owner, a completed and signed general release form is required. You may download a general release form here.

Customer Agreement

  • Applicant must be an existing potable water utility customer of the city of Tampa, city of St. Petersburg, city of New Port Richey, Pinellas County, Pasco County or Hillsborough County.
  • Tampa Bay Water Wise may request access to submeter and conductivity data up to five years post-rebate, in order to track savings.
  • A written assurance for three years post-rebate that the cooling tower will not be converted to an alternative water source, such as reclaimed or well water.
  • A written assurance that COC’s will remain at or above 6 for at least three years (monthly, yearly and cumulatively) in all contractual agreements with the owner.
  • Tampa Bay Water Wise reserves the right to verify upgrades. If the rebate inspector is unable to conduct a scheduled inspection to verify the upgrade the rebate check may not be issued.
  • Applicant must allow Tampa Bay Water Wise or its third-party inspector access to review the completed installation for up to two (2) years after a rebate check has been paid in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
  • Tampa Bay Water Wise reserves the right to inspect all submissions to determine eligibility. Fraudulent requests for rebates or duplicate submissions will be denied. Any paid rebates will be subject to repayment to Tampa Bay Water Wise if fraudulent activity is determined.
  • Applications submitted with missing or incomplete information will be subject to processing delays and/or denial of the rebate request.
  • Rebate applications submitted may take up to 30 days to be processed. Rebate approval is at the sole discretion of Tampa Bay Water Wise, and submission of a rebate application does not guarantee rebate approval.
  • In order to receive a rebate, applicants must fulfill application requirements, meet rebate criteria, and accept the customer agreement.
  • Rebate(s) will be issued as a check made payable to the account holder or property owner. Checks will not be issued to third parties or contractors, unless designated by the property owner with a general release form here.
  • The rebate issued cannot exceed 75% of the equipment and labor costs when done in combination with WISE rebate.
  • Rebates are offered on new products, technologies or treatments only. Used or refurbished items are not eligible for a rebate.

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