Water Conservation
New Outdoor Watering Times Effective June 1, 2013
As the new seasonal outdoor watering times kick in, all irrigation and hand watering must occur before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on June 1 through the end of October to reduce evaporation during the warmer summer and fall seasons. Residents with automatic irrigation are encouraged to water in the very early hours of the morning. This is one of the permanent water-waste restrictions enacted by the City in the wake of drought conditions in recent years. Go to the “Permanent Water-Waste Restrictions” page to learn more details about the rules in place.
The time of day when watering is allowed (before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. from June to October, and before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. from November to May) is a permanent restriction. This does not apply to irrigation as required by a landscape permit; for erosion control; for establishment, repair or renovation of public use fields; for landscape establishment following a disaster; for renovation or repair of an irrigation system; and for nursery and commercial growers using hand held containers, positive shut off nozzles, or drip/micro-spray systems.
Tools to Help Eliminate Water Waste
A Landscape Watering Calculator is available here, to help you determine the how long to water your landscape.
In addition, the San Diego County Water Authority offers a Residential Household Water Use Calculator to help residents estimate how much water they use in their homes, and provides practical tips for conserving.
Surveys & Rebate Programs Available Now!
Residential and Commercial Water Surveys
Leaks and over irrigation can cause significant waste. The City of San Diego offers free Water Conservation services:
- Residential Interior and Exterior Surveys
- Multi-family Interior and Exterior Surveys
- Commercial Landscape Surveys
- Water-Wise Business Survey Program
For a survey appointment and more information, call (619) 570-1999, or email watersurvey@sandiego.gov.
Rebate Programs
The City’s Public Utilities Department has residential and commercial outdoor rebate programs to help customers save in a big way. Funded primarily by state grants competitively sought and obtained by the City, the rebates are available to eligible single-family, multi-family and commercial customers on a first-come, first served basis. Click the icons to the right to learn more about irrigation controllers,micro-irrigation, turf removal and rainwater harvesting (rain barrels) rebates.