Sacramento County Water Agency - Water Efficiency

Last Updated: 9/23/2026

Making Conservation a California Way of Life is a new regulatory framework proposed by California State Water Resources Control 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.

a house with a low water garden
Rain Garden in parking lot

The Sacramento County Water Agency's (SCWA) watering schedule for lawns and landscape has not changed. 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.org.
  • 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.
  • Transition to a beautiful low-water garden by removing half of your lawn and adding low-water native plants and drip irrigation—saves 90 gallons of water per day per 1,000 square feet of lawn removed each time you water. SCWA customers may be eligible for rebates. Visit the SacCounty.gov/CashForGrass webpage for more details.

Information about how to implement these actions, additional water-saving tips, water-wise gardening examples, and many more resources are available at BeWaterSmart.info.

​Be Wise With Your Water

To meet annual objectives,water 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 continues to carry out existing efficiency activities and incentive programs (including turf replacement 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 California State Water Resources Control Board for more information about Making Conservation A California Way of Life.​

When Can You Water?

Watering Schedule (8pm to 8am):

  • Addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8)
    • Sprinkler and drip:  Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
  • Addresses ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
    • Sprinkler and drip:  Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

Recycled water users are exempt from this watering schedule.

Prohibited Activities

The California State Water Resources Control 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. 
  • Using a hose that is not fitted with an automatic shut-off device when washing a motor vehicle.
  • Applying potable water to driveways and sidewalks.
  • Using 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.
  • Applying potable water to outdoor landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
  • Using potable water to irrigate ornamental turf on public street medians. 
  • Using potable water to irrigate 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. 
  • Hotels and motel operators not providing guests the option to reuse towels and linens. 

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​​

Nonfunctional Turf Law—Coming Statewide Changes

In 2023, California enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 to reduce the wasteful use of potable (drinking) water and support State policies on water conservation and climate change. The law prohibits using potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf (NFT) on commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) properties and common landscape areas of Homeowners Associations (HOAs). 

The law does not ban turf—it prohibits using potable water on nonfunctional turf.  Functional turf may still be irrigated with potable water, and nonfunctional turf may still be irrigated with recycled water.

The new law will be phased in over five years, starting in 2027, based on the type of property. To learn more, visit our Nonfunctional Turf page.