On July 28, 2008 the Mayor and City Council declared that San Diego is in a Stage 1 Water Emergency (PDF: 210K). San Diegans are now officially requested to voluntarily save water. If the City goes to a Stage 2 Water Alert, there would be mandatory water conservation.

In this Stage 1 Water Watch, San Diegans are asked to voluntarily reduce their indoor and outdoor usage. A complete list of the voluntary actions being requested are laid out in the Municipal Code regarding Emergency Water Regulations. This declaration is based on: (1) the historic dry conditions in the regions from which San Diego imports its water (2) the judicial actions limiting the movement of water through the Bay-Delta to Southern California (3) the need to increase conservation to meet current-year demand goals (4) the increased consumption of customers (5) the Governor's Declaration of Drought Emergency throughout the State (6) the need for increased public awareness of ensure every opportunity to conserve water voluntarily is provided.

An official Public Notice and Resolution (PDF: 16K) has been issued regarding this Water Emergency.

Below on this page you will find the many Water Department water conservation programs designed to help you save water.

As part of a region-wide effort to step up voluntary water conservation the City of San Diego Water Department, in conjunction with the San Diego County Water Authority, has issued a 20-Gallon Challenge. San Diegans are each being asked to conserve 20-gallons a day of water, our most precious resource. Additional water conservation information, including how to sign up for the 20-Gallon Challenge, is available on the County Water Authority's website at: www.sdcwa.org.

Report Water Waste

Have you seen an instance of water waste? Perhaps it is a broken sprinkler head or an irrigation system timer that is set to water too long. We would like to hear about it so we can contact the owners/operators of the system and make them aware of the problem. In addition, chronic wasters could be fined.

Just send us the location and the date and time you observed the problem. It would also be helpful to include your contact information in case any follow up is needed. Either send us an e-mail or call us at (619) 515-3500 (press 5) or (619) 533-7485.

Help Us Reduce Our Water Use

The City is committed to leading by example and to conserving water use within every department.

City efficiency programs have resulted in water savings of 11.5 percent from last year, primarily due to the efforts of the Parks and Recreation Department. These savings are better than the citywide average of 6.3 percent.

There is still more work to be done. If you have a suggestion for how the city can conserve water, or see an instance of water waste on city property, either send us an e-mail or call us at (619) 515-3500 (press 5) or (619) 533-7485.

Conservation Resources

• Free Water Wise Gardening Classes Being Offered
• Children's Water Conservation Poster Display Program (PDF: 238K)
• Commercial Landscape Survey Program
• Guaranteed Water Program
• High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate Program
• Kids Water Conservation Corner and Poster Contest
• Landscape Watering Calculator
• Plumbing Retrofit Ordinance Compliance
• Residential Water Survey Program
• San Diego Municipal Code Regarding Emergency Water Regulations
• $230 toward a Weather Based Irrigation Controller for Single Family Customers
• Toilet Rebate Program
• Water Conservation Tips

Other Resources

• Water Conservation Garden
• Be Water Wise, Metropolitan Water District and The Family of So. Calif. Water Agencies
• California Invasive Plant Council
• Keep it in the Garden: (PDF: 214K) Protect California's Natural Habitats Brochure, courtesy of the U.C. Cooperative Extension.
• Learn how to have a Water Saver Home, courtesy of the California Urban Water Conservation Council (requires Macromedia Flash player)
• The Nifty Fifty (PDF: 39K) Plants for California Friendly Landscapes
• Water: H2O=Life, American Museum of Natural History

For more information, brochures, pamphlets, etc., call our Water Conservation Hotline at (619) 515-3500, or e-mail us at water@sandiego.gov.