Residential Water Survey Programs

Water surveys can help you identify water-saving opportunities and evaluate your irrigation system. Free residential survey programs are available to property owners and tenants located within the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department's service area. If you receive your water bill from a different agency, please check with that agency for its available resources and survey programs.

To schedule any of the surveys below, or for more information, please call 619-533-6661, or email us at watersurvey@sandiego.gov and provide your name and daytime phone number.

Single and Multi-Family (up to eight units) Water Survey Program

This citywide program is offering free-of-charge single-family and multifamily (up to eight units) water surveys to water customers who pay their water bills to the City of San Diego. As part of this program, a Water Conservation representative will tour your property to identify leaks and options for saving water. Please see the Residential Water Survey Brochure for more information.

Participants can receive water-saving equipment and information, including low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and other free items. The Representative will also evaluate your landscape and irrigation systems. Since this program emphasizes customer education, it is important the tenant/occupant be present at the time of the survey.

Multi-Family (more than eight units) Water Survey Program

The Multi-Family Survey program helps multi-unit properties decrease their water use.

• A water surveyor trains the property maintenance person on how to check for water leaks, measure water flow (showerheads, toilet and kitchen faucets) and check for toilet leaks. The maintenance person then conducts a survey of each unit, completes the required paperwork and submits it to the City's Water Conservation section. If the property has landscaping, an irrigation specialist will review irrigation and landscape and make recommendations to reduce water. Showerheads and faucets aerators will be given, if needed, after the raw data is received from the property owner/manager. In order to train the maintenance person, City staff needs one to two units available for access at the time of appointment.

Commercial Survey Programs

The programs below are provided free of charge to commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) customers in the City of San Diego.

CII Irrigation Checkup

CII customers with a property less than 1 acre will receive an Irrigation Checkup and water-saving recommendations. Landscape irrigation can make up 25% to 30% of total water use. Skilled surveyors will review the water-use history of the property to determine where water savings are possible. 

Large Landscape Survey

CII and residential customers with a property larger than 1 acre can apply for a landscape survey at www.watersmartcheckup.org. 

Water-Wise Business Survey Program

This program provides a customized review of commercial landscape water usage, including an on-site visit to identify areas where water use efficiencies can be achieved and effectively implemented. Recommendations can help customers use water more efficiently and save energy. Download a Water-Wise Business Survey Brochure for additional information.

Guaranteed Water for Industry Program

The Guaranteed Water for Industry Program exempts research and development or industrial manufacturing firms from mandatory water restrictions in times of drought in exchange for their participation in daily water conservation programs, including the use of recycled water. More information about the program and how to participate is available on the City's Economic Development website.