Rebates for catching rain in Tucson

From a water website I read; yes I really do!
https://www.wateronline.com/doc/tucson-homeowners-offered-rebates-for-catching-rainfall-0001
From the article
"The program is popular, but Tucson Water has weighed in with some points about its effectiveness.

"Tucson Water says those in the program haven't reduced their use of city water. The utility says in a new draft water conservation report that it doesn't consider the rebates a success. Though it is the least cost-effective of eight city water conservation rebate programs, Tucson Water said, the utility was not opposing expanding it," according to the Associated Press"

Perhaps if the city includes how to hook up the rainwater catch system to water plants using drip it will be more effective.  Xeriscaping the lawn with more heat and drought tolerant plants, then using a drip system connected to the rainwater catch system would also encourage more participation.   Also, using sunken beds for plantings will lower evaporation and runoff and put the water directly where it's needed...at the roots.
More and more municipalities are coming around to allowing us to convert our grass lawns to meadows or gardens that use no (or need very little) water.  As our climate warms, we will need to rethink our use of water to provide enough for our, and our food's, consumption.  

John C Daley wrote:"Tucson Water says those in the program haven't reduced their use of city water... "

To me, I'm missing too much information.
Are people using city water to do things that rainwater could do?
Or are people simply using as much city water *inside* their homes as they always have - like showering, drinking and washing clothing.
Is there any effort to educate people on how to effectively use rainwater for things like washing cars?

Is the rainwater catching actually increasing people's use of water - they're now using rainwater + City water? Or are they just delaying water runoff by using water catchment, thus improving slow release of water into streams and rivers, thus helping the environment?

Tina, have you made that suggestion to the City?

Brad Lancaster has been active in Tucson for years teaching and helping set up whole neighborhoods for rain harvesting.

Here's just one of several old threads here at permies https://permies.com/t/29821/Water-Harvesting-Certification-Tucson-AZ

More recently I saw posted two of his books...will look for the links.

https://permies.com/wiki/51855/Rainwater-Harvesting-Drylands-Brad-Lancaster

https://permies.com/t/36676/Brad-Lancaster-Waste-Transform-waste

https://permies.com/t/34929/Brad-Lancaster-Rainwater-Harvesting-Demonstration

John C Daley wrote:Tina, have you made that suggestion to the City?

Not yet.  I'm a Master Gardener and Licensed Irrigator in Texas and a rainwater catch/reuse/et al enthusiast.  I have been paying attention to the local municipalities here and they have been leaning closer and closer to permaculture gardening techniques, water conservation and creative ways to save water.  In addition, Texas has made it so the HOAs are no longer allowed to ban rainwater catch barrels here.  While not all cities are the same, there are some that offer many workshops to help residents learn how to use their water in a more conserving way.  Plano, TX is an example with their WaterWise program.
I can forward them some of that information, with contact information for Plano, so they can see about having a mentor for their program.

Tina, that is interesting.
I found this on that Plano site
http://www.txsmartscape.com/
Its very interesting with this comment as well,
"SmartScapes are NOT
Desert 'scapes
Rock gardens
Cactus plants:."