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Have green infrastructure installed on your property? Apply for RiverSmart Rewards to receive a reward on your DC Water bill!
Green infrastructure practices, such as rain barrels, rain gardens, and green roofs, protect our waterbodies by preventing oil, trash, and harmful nutrients from polluting our rivers and streams. District residents, businesses, and property owners can earn a reward on their DC Water bill for installing and maintaining green infrastructure on their property.
The RiverSmart Rewards program is actually two separate incentives in one — discounts on the DC Government Stormwater Fee and the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC), two charges found on your DC Water bill. Using one application, eligible applicants can apply for both rewards.
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RiverSmart Rewards |
Clean Rivers IAC Incentive Program |
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Impacted Stormwater Fee — found on DC Water bill |
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Maximum Allowable Reward |
55% off |
20% off |
Discount amounts depend on the application type, property size, and runoff retained by the green infrastructure practices. Discounts are posted to the property’s DC Water bill.
Applications are approved for a 3-year period. Participants can renew up to 90-days prior to expiration.
Eligibility
DOEE verifies and approves RiverSmart Rewards for qualifying green infrastructure. DOEE has the right to deny green infrastructure practices that are not fully installed and/or not properly functioning.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be a District resident, business, renter, and/or property owner
- Have a DC Water bill and be current on all DC Water payments
- Actively maintain green infrastructure on their property
- Be in compliance with DOEE stormwater regulations, where applicable
Eligible green infrastructure practices, installed after May 1, 2009:
- Rainwater harvesting — rain barrels, cisterns, rain tanks
- Bioretention — rain garden (must include an underdrain)
- Tree planting
- Permeable pavement
- Green roofs
- Infiltration system
- Downspout disconnection rerouted to pervious area
Ineligible green infrastructure practices:
- Green infrastructure installed before May 1, 2009
- BayScaping (not engineered to capture stormwater)
- Native plantings
- Shrubs
- Impervious area removal
- Filtering systems
- Proprietary practices
Financial assistance for low-income residents:
RiverSmart Rewards is not a financial assistance program, but a reward intended to celebrate District residents who have installed and are maintaining green infrastructure in the District.
If your household could benefit from financial assistance at this time, the CRIAC Residential Relief Program provides a discount on your DC Water bill. The DC Water SPLASH Program, administered by the Greater Washington Urban League, applies funds to your DC Water bill to help maintain service. Front Door provides DC residents with information about housing resources they're eligible for and how to apply for them.
Apply for RiverSmart Rewards
For RiverSmart Homes or RiverSmart Rebates participants:
If you recently had green infrastructure installed through RiverSmart Homes/Rebates, you’ll be automatically enrolled in RiverSmart Rewards. You’ll receive an email once enrolled and you should see the reward on your DC Water bill within 1-2 billing cycles of receipt.
If you are a RiverSmart Homes/Rebates participant with eligible green infrastructure and you are not receiving a reward on your DC Water bill, reach out to [email protected].
For residential properties not participating in RiverSmart Homes or RiverSmart Rebates:
The Simple Application form is for properties with green infrastructure managing stormwater runoff from less than 2,000 square feet of impervious area. Most residential homes will qualify to use the Simple Application.
You may submit your application by email to [email protected] or by mail to the address below:
Department of Energy and Environment
Attn: Regulatory Review Division/RiverSmart Rewards
1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor
Washington DC, 20002
If you would like us to mail you an application, please email [email protected].
For larger properties, including sites with a Stormwater Management Plan:
The Standard Application is available for properties with green infrastructure managing stormwater runoff from more than 2,000 square feet of impervious area. This application is largely submitted by businesses and organizations. Most residential homes are not required to submit a Standard Application. Learn more about the Standard Application.
Contact
For more information, email [email protected] or call (202) 345-7191.