| Tip |
Estimated Savings |
| Water only before 6 a.m. and after 8 p.m. to reduce evaporation and interference from wind. |
20-25 gallons per day per valve |
Don’t over-water landscaping:
1) Cut irrigation to 2 or 3 days per week or use the landscape calculator and watering index. Also check out www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation to learn how much to water.
2) Water only after the top inch of soil is dry.
3) Reset irrigation controllers and replace batteries in the spring and fall |
25-50 gallons per valve for each minute of irrigation eliminated |
| Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. |
150 gallons or more per use |
| Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and run-off. |
15-20 gallons per day per valve |
| Repair leaks and broken sprinkler heads. |
20 gallons per day per leak |
| Add 2” to 3” of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation. |
40 gallons per day per valve/hydrozone |
| Install water-efficient drip irrigation system for trees, shrubs, and flowers to get water to the plant’s roots more efficiently. |
20-25 gallons over day per valve/hydrozone |
| Upgrade to a “smart irrigation controller” that automatically adjusts watering times for hotter weather, and shuts down the system when it rains. * |
525 gallons/30 station controller |
Replace a portion of lawn with beautiful native and California Friendly plants. These plants do best
when planted after winter rains begin. |
33-60 gallons per day per valve |
| For multi-family sites, utilize the Water Authority's Smart Landscape Program to upgrade irrigation hardware and equipment to stop leaks, reduce water use, and otherwise improve irrigation efficiency. * |
900 gallons per day per acre |
