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SAN DIEGO CONSERVATION

1025 Palm Avenue | Imperial Beach, CA 91932 | Hours: 8:30 am-4:00 pm | Phone 619-446-5707
Services the cities of (or portions of): San Diego, Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, and San Ysidro

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Free Devices

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Landscape Resources

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Rebates

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Leak Detection Kit

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Water Saving Tips

 

San Diego Conservation

New Water Conservation Measures Go into Effect June 1, 2023

California American Water is moving back to a three-days-per-week watering schedule for outdoor landscaping, after winter storms helped ease state water shortage conditions.  This comes after Governor Newsom lifted emergency water restrictions for the area recently; those restrictions had been in effect since June 1, 2022. 

Beginning June 1, 2023, California American Water is encouraging San Diego District customers to follow the below recommended watering schedule. 

  • THREE-DAYS-A-WEEK
    • Odd Address (Addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9): Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
    • Even Address (Addresses ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, 0): Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
    • No watering on Wednesday 
    • To avoid evaporation, we recommend customers water outdoors before 9:00 a.m. or after sunset.
    • Watering should be limited to a total of 10-minutes per station per allowed days.
    • Hand watering with a garden hose/nozzle and low-flow irrigation systems (Including drip irrigation and micro spray) that emit less than two gallons per hour are exempt from days of week and time limitations. 

      Customers should check their city’s watering schedule, as some cities may have implemented more restrictive measures.​ We encourage customers to follow their city’s conservation guidelines if more restrictive. 

        We’re here to help

        FREE Water Wise Surveys are available. California American Water provides free water use consultations for our residential and non-residential customers. For residential customers, a conservation specialist will visit your home, identify ways to help you save water, and even provide free low flow fixtures for your kitchen and bathroom. For non-residential customers, a conservation specialist will calculate an individualized water budget and provide water saving recommendations.
        Please call your Conservation Specialist at (619) 446-5707 to schedule your in home survey.

        State Water Board Bans Watering “Non-Functional” Turf With Potable Water

        Effective June 10, 2022, the State Water Board has implemented a statewide ban on watering “non-functional turf” in commercial, industrial, institutional areas with potable water. This does not include house yards, parks, or sports fields, but it does include decorative turf at businesses and in common areas of HOAs and housing subdivisions. Non-functional turf is grass that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events.

         

        Why is this happening?

        The new emergency regulation is mandated by the State Water Board in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s March 28 Executive Order and aims to improve the state’s water conservation efforts amid the third year of drought. The emergency regulation will remain in effect for one year, unless modified by the State Water Board.

         

        Learn more about the ban by visiting bit.ly/conservationreg.

        What do customers need to do to comply?

        Owners and managers of commercial, industrial, institutional, and HOA properties must not use potable water for irrigating non-functional turf. If you have questions about conservation and replacing your turf, please contact our Conservation Specialists by clicking on your district listed above.


        The enforcement of this ban will be led by the State Water Resources Control Board, although California American Water does send courtesy notices to customers if there are reports of a potential violation. California American Water is permitted to enforce fines should customers not comply, however we are committed to education over enforcement whenever possible.

        Residential Rebates 

        CAAW made recent changes to its residential conservation rebate program and is no longer offering indoor or outdoor rebates for residential customers. Certain rebates, however, may still be available from your electric or gas utility. This change is due to lower approved funding levels for conservation rebate programs. 

        For non-residential rebates please click below. 

        For any questions, please call your local conservation representative at 1-619-446-5707. 

        Commercial Rebates

        CLICK HERE for commercial rebate application  

        Qualified items listed below

        Commercial Rebate Items 

        Rebate Amounts & Additional Information 

         

        High Efficiency Toilets (HET) 

         

        $40 for Multi-family toilets 

        $40 for Commercial toilets 

        $40 for Flush-o-meter toilets 

        (Must be 1.1 GPF – Water Sense Certified) 

        See list of qualifying toilets or flush-o-meter toilets 

        High Efficiency Urinals 

        $200 

        See list of qualifying urinals 

        **High Efficiency Clothes Washer (HECW) 

          $500 

        See list of qualifying washers 

        **To Apply—Click Here 

        **High Efficiency Dishwashers (HEDW) 

        $100 

        See list of qualifying dishwashers 

        ** To Apply—Click Here 

         

        Plumbing Flow Control Valves 

        $5 per valve (minimum 10) 

        Laminar Flow Restrictors 

        $10 per restrictor (minimum 10) See list of qualifying restrictors 

         

        Cooling Tower Conductivity Controllers 

        $625 

         

        Cooling Tower pH Controllers 

         

        $1750 

         

        Dry Vacuum Pumps 

        $125 per 0.5 HP for a maximum of 2 HPs 

        Connectionless Food Steamers 

        $485 per compartment 

        See list of qualifying steamers 

        Air-Cooled Ice Machines 

        $1000 

        See list of qualifying machines 

        Weather-Based Irrigation Controller (WBIC) 

          $35/station-Eligible WBIC can have a max of 11       inactive stations per controller. See list of qualifying WBICs 

        Central Computer Irrigation Controller (CCIC) 

        $35 per station 

        Soil Moisture Sensor Systems 

        $35/station-Eligible SMSS can have a max of 11 inactive stations per controller. See list of qualifying sensor systems 

        Rotating Nozzles 

        $2 per nozzle (minimum of 30) 

        $13 per set of large rotary nozzles (minimum of 8) See list of qualifying nozzles or rotary nozzles 

        In-Stem Flow Regulators 

        $1 per regulator (minimum 25) See list of qualifying regulator 

        **Pool Cover 

        $50 for a manual pool cover 

        $200 for a mechanical pool cover 

        *Requirements on application 

        *Spa/ hot tub covers are excluded from this rebate program 

        Turf Removal Rebate Program

        Click here for our Turf Removal Rebate Program Information Sheet.
        Click here to download our Turf Removal Residential Rebate Application.
        Click here to download our Turf Removal Commercial Rebate Application.


        Click one of the following outdoor landscaping guides:
        Animal Friendly
        Empty Nester
        Kid Friendly
        Native Habitat
        Coastal Frontyard
        Coastal Backyard

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