“Encouraging Water Conservation: Oviedo to Vote on New Initiative”

OVIEDO, Fla. – Officials in Oviedo are working on a plan to encourage homeowners to reduce water consumption.

At a meeting on Monday, the city council will vote to approve a water conservation rebate program.

The plan, which is in partnership with the St. Johns River Water Management District, would offer reimbursement costs and $100 rebates for homeowners who install high-efficiency irrigation and smart controllers.

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“If we can incentivize people to use less water, that is the cheapest way to get water,” Mayor Megan Sladek said.

The vote on the incentive program comes two months after Oviedo sent out notices to households using the most water within four neighborhoods: McKinley’s Mill, Bentley Woods, and Twin Rivers East and West.

Hillary Hupp lives in McKinley’s Mill and received one of the notices in August.

“We take such pride in our lawn, our beautiful lawn,” Hupp said. “We had a very hot and dry summer, so you don’t want the HOA coming after you for dead lawns. It’s kind of a Catch-22.”

Hupp said the incentive program would be a good way for the city to save water, while also saving homeowners money.

“If we can all work together and save the lawn and conserve water, we’re all for that,” Hupp said.

The rebate program will be voted on during the Oviedo City Council regular meeting, which is on Monday at 6:30 p.m.