Water Resources

​Making Conservation a California Way of Life is a new regulatory framework proposed by State Water Board staff that establishes individualized efficiency goals for each Urban Retail Water Supplier. These goals are based on the unique characteristics of the supplier’s service area and give suppliers the flexibility to implement locally appropriate solutions. Once implemented, these goals are expected to reduce urban water use, helping California adapt to the water supply impacts brought on by climate change.

SCWA is still continuing with current water schedule for lawns and landscape.  You can find the watering schedule below.​

To be more water efficient, you can also ​consider taking the following actions:

• Stress Your Lawn and Save Your Trees. Try reducing lawn watering times by two minutes, but remember to take steps to protect your trees. Lawn can handle less water and eventually recover while trees can be lost forever. You can find tips and videos for efficiently watering trees at BeWaterSmart.info/trees or sactree.com.
• Check soil moisture with a moisture meter before turning on sprinklers—saves 80 gallons of water per day.
• Water plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation—saves 50 gallons of water each time you water.
• Begin the transition to a beautiful low-water garden by removing half of your lawn this summer. You’ll be ready to add low-water native plants and drip irrigation this winter—saves 90 gallons of water per day per 1,000 square feet of lawn removed each time you water.
• SCWA customers can contact us about rebates.

Information about how to implement these actions, additional water-saving tips and a continuously updated map with watering guidelines for each agency are available at BeWaterSmart.info.

​Be Wise With Your Water

To meet annual objectives, suppliers may use a wide variety of tools to encourage customers to use water wisely, indoors and outdoors. Examples include education and outreach, leak detection, rate reform, incentives to plant “climate ready” landscapes, and rebates to replace old and inefficient fixtures and appliances.

SCWA remains committed to water efficiency, and we encourage customers to be resilient in protecting our water. SCWA will continue to carryout existing efficiency activities and incentive programs (including turf rebates, water efficiency rebates and home water audits) that help customers identify​ ways to reduce water use and will encourage customers to support conservation with a voluntary 20% goal in mind.​

You can turn to the State Water Resources Control Board for more information about Making Conservation A Califronia Way of Life.​

When Can You Water?

Watering Schedule

Recycled water users are exempt from this watering schedule

Prohibited Activities

The State Water Board has established that the following activities related to the use of potable water are permanently prohibited:

• Excess irrigation runoff flowing onto adjacent property, paved surfaces, structures or non-irrigated areas. (Under existing SCWA Normal Stage this is “discouraged” rather than prohibited)
• Using a hose that is not fitted with an automatic shut-off device when washing a motor vehicle.
• Application of potable water to driveways and sidewalks.
  
• Use of potable water in non-recirculating fountains or other decorative water features.
• Serving drinking water other than upon request in eating or drinking establishments, restaurants, hotels, cafes, cafeterias, bars, or other public places where food or drink are served and/or purchased.
• Application of potable water to outdoor landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall. (Prior State emergency regulation, now permanent)
• Irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public street medians. (Prior State emergency regulation, now permanent)
• Irrigation with potable water outside of new homes and buildings (after June 1, 2015) in a manner inconsistent with regulations or other requirements established by the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development. (Prior State emergency regulation, now permanent)
• Hotels and motel operators not providing guests the option to reuse towels and linens. (Prior State emergency regulation, now permanent)

Encouraged Activities

• Install drought tolerant, low- water use, landscaping
  
• Use high efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances
  
• Only wash full loads when running laundry​ and dish washing appliances
  
• Use a bucket, rather than a hose, when washing a car​​