Whiskey Joe’s gets first Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate for food-defrosting system

Whiskey Joe’s, a waterfront restaurant in Tampa Bay, became the first business to get a Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate for commercial food-defrosting technology. The new system is expected to save about 2,000 gallons of water a day as the region remains under a Stage 3 water shortage.

Why it matters: - Whiskey Joe’s is showing how a restaurant can cut water use without changing core kitchen operations. - The project comes as the Tampa Bay region remains under a Stage 3 Regional Water Supply Shortage. - Tampa Bay Water Wise rebates are designed to reduce the upfront cost of water-saving equipment for businesses. - The restaurant’s system is expected to save approximately 2,000 gallons of water every day.

What happened: - Whiskey Joe’s became the first business to receive a Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate for commercial food-defrosting technology. - The waterfront restaurant installed a CNSRV system to thaw frozen food faster while using less water. - Tampa Bay Water Wise helped offset the cost of the equipment with a $1,000 rebate. - The system is part of the kitchen’s normal routine and supports operations that defrost nearly one ton of product each week.

The details: - The new system recirculates water instead of continuously using and wasting drinking water during thawing. - The equipment can also quickly cool large quantities of hot food, giving the kitchen another way to cut water use. - The system costs approximately $3,600 without a rebate. - Larger projects may qualify for customizable rebates covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. - Restaurants can also receive up to $200 for qualifying WaterSense toilets and half-gallon urinals. - Tampa Bay Water Wise was developed by Tampa Bay Water and its six member governments: Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, plus the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. - The Southwest Florida Water Management District co-funds the rebate program. - Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida and provides drinking water to more than 2.6 million Tampa Bay residents through its member governments.

Between the lines: - The rebate lowers the financial barrier for businesses that want to invest in conservation equipment. - The project links water savings with utility savings, which can make conservation easier to sell to restaurant operators. - Tampa Bay Water is using commercial incentives to push conservation beyond residential customers.

What's next: - Tampa Bay Water Wise is directing businesses to its rebate programs for additional water-saving upgrades. - More restaurants and other commercial users could qualify for future rebates if they adopt eligible equipment. - More information is available at Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate programs.