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County to Offer Water Saving Incentive to Businesses

Oxford County is offering qualifying businesses financial incentives for capital upgrades on their water systems. It's part of the County's "Water Capacity Buy Back" program which looks to maintain reasonable and competitive water and wastewater rates through the deferral or delay of costly capital infrastructure required for capacity expansion. Director of Public Works Rob Walton says this program is for industrial and commercial businesses. "Starting in 2014, we'll budget $50,000 a year. Businesses that meet certain criteria will go through staff and have that approved, and the CAO signs off at the end of it, so we don't need County Council approval on those projects. Projects that go over the $50,000 that's budgeted will need to come back to County Council for approval." The funds will be handed out on a first come, first served basis. Walton says only one successful project has come before council since 2010 which required a significant financial contribution but the applicant has seen a 38% decrease in their annual water consumption. He says if they can get those kinds of results in the future, it's a win-win. "It's a program where by them doing things to change their processes and investing money in it, we will co-invest with them (businesses) within the limits of the program to help them implement that to produce the water savings. On our systems, hopefully it will make it longer until we have to do expansions." A water audit may be required on the application property to ensure water efficiency opportunities exist.

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