The Water Authority's residential water conservation programs have been highly effective in achieving water conservation savings.  As a result, the residential water conservation programs were expanded to serve other markets, such as new residential construction and residential landscape.  The programs listed below are designed to achieve water savings in the single-family and multifamily residential sectors. Multifamily properties include apartments, condominiums, town homes, duplexes, triplexes, and mobile homes. Please click on any of the links below for more information.

Single-Family High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates
Multifamily High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates
Multifamily Toilet Rebates
Single-Family High-Efficiency Toilet and Upgrade Rebates
Single-Family Landscape Surveys
Single-Family Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebates
Single-Family and Multifamily Artificial Turf Rebates - Program suspended as of June 26, 2008, due to the Center for Disease Control's recently issued health advisory on the safety of artificial turf.
Multifamily Large Landscape Audits
Multifamily Smart Landscape Grants
Multifamily Smart Controller Vouchers
Single-Family Rotating Nozzles Rebates
Water Savings Performance Program
California-Friendly Home Incentives (New Construction/2007 Wild Fire Victims)
Agricultural Water Management Program

This program provides a financial incentive to encourage customers to choose a high-efficiency clothes washer (HEW) instead of a standard top-loading model. HEWs use 65% less water, 55% less energy, and less detergent; clean better; and are gentler on clothes than standard clothes washers. Drying time can be cut in half.  This program generates both water and energy savings. HEWs must be from the list of approved models and have a water efficiency factor of 5.0 or less. The program offers a rebate of up to $185. The Metropolitan Water District operates the program on behalf of the Water Authority, its member agencies, and San Diego Gas and Electric.

For program information and eligibility requirements, please call 1-888-376-3314, or click here for detailed information.

Mutifamily High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates

The Save-A-Buck Program offers rebates to owners of apartments, condominiums, town homes, duplexes, triplexes, and mobile homes of up to $185 for the purchase of high-efficiency clothes washer (HEW) instead of a standard top-loading model. HEWs use 65% less water, 55% less energy, and less detergent; clean better; and are gentler on clothes than standard clothes washers. Drying time can be cut in half. This program generates both water and energy savings. HEWs must be from the list of approved models and have a water efficiency factor of 5.0 or less.

Click here for detailed information, or call 1-877-728-2282.

Multifamily Toilet Rebates

The Save-A-Buck Program offers rebates for owners of apartments, condominiums, town homes, duplexes, triplexes, and mobile homes for the purchase of high-efficiency toilets or ultra-low-flush toilets. It's easy to participate.

Click here for detailed information, or call 1-877-728-2282.

Single-Family High-Efficiency Toilet and Upgrade Rebates

The SoCal Water$mart Program offers a rebate of up to $200 for high-efficiency toilets (HETs). You'll save more than 60 percent every time you flush. Pre-1981 toilets use five to seven gallons of water per flush, compared to the 1.28 to 1.6 gallons per flush used by HETs.

The program also offers a rebate of up to $30 per high-efficiency toilet upgrade or for new construction.

Click here for detailed information, or call 1-888-376-3314.

Single-Family Landscape Surveys

Free residential surveys are available to single family customers looking for help in reducing outdoor water use. Surveys are designed to identify potential leaks, recommend water conserving devices, assess irrigation efficiency, and determine the proper landscape watering schedule. To request a survey please call (800) 986-4538 unless you are a customer of any of the agencies listed below. Customers of the agencies listed below should contact the number provided for their agency.

City of San Diego (619) 570-1999
Helix Water District (619) 466-0585
Otay Water District (619) 670-2291
Rincon del Diablo MWD (760) 745-5522
Santa Fe Irrigation District (858) 756-5672
Vallecitos Water District (760) 744-0460

Single-Family Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebates

Rebates for a "smart" controller of at least $230 are now available for all customers in the the Water Authority's service area. A "smart" or weather-based irrigation controller can be an effective technology for reducing water usage outdoors. Unlike a standard automatic timer that turns on the sprinklers at set intervals, a "smart" controller uses weather data and site information such as plant type and sprinkler system output to adjust watering times and frequency. Because proper installation and initial set-up of these controllers generally requires an in-depth knowledge of soils, precipitation rates, slope measurements and related factors, professional installation is recommended. A higher rebate may be available in your area. The minimum rebate amount for single-family sites less than one acre is $230. For a listing of agencies with higher rebates, for sites under one acre, please see the list below. The minimum incentive for single-family sites one acre or larger, is $630 per acre.

Click here for detailed information, or call 1-888-376-3314.

Please note: The Conservation Rebates link above includes a reference to an $80 incentive for sites under one acre, which is not applicable to customers of the San Diego County Water Authority. The incentive for San Diego County is a minimum of $230 for sites under one acre. Some agencies offer a higher incentive, for a listing please see the list below.

Agencies with higher incentives

Artificial Turf Rebates

The Center for Disease Control recently issued a health advisory on the safety of artificial turf. The advisory indicates that lead may be present in certain artificial turf products, and may be released into the environment as the artificial turf ages and breaks down. This may pose a health risk to children. Based on this health advisory, the Water Authority will be suspending its artificial turf incentive program for the San Diego region while we await more definitive scientific results and recommendations on the safety of artificial turf.

For more information, click here.

Multifamily Large Landscape Audits

Free landscape audits are available to over-watered commercial, multifamily, or public sites. The audit is designed to assess the efficiency of the irrigation system, identify potential leaks, and determine the proper watering schedule for the landscape based on existing plant material.

Audits are available to pre-approved customers. To request approval contact your local water district. To schedule an audit contact (800) 986-4538 unless you are a customer of any of the agencies listed below. Customers of the agencies listed below should contact the number provided for their agency.

City of San Diego (619) 570-1999
Helix Water District (619) 466-0585
Vallecitos Water District (760) 744-0460

Multifamily Smart Landscape Grants

Grants for repairs/upgrades
Public, commercial, and multifamily properties may qualify for grants of up to $2,500 per irrigated acre to replace or upgrade hardware and equipment that will stop leaks, reduce water use, or otherwise improve irrigation efficiency. Grants are limited to $5,000 total for commercial or multifamily properties and $10,000 for public sites.

The grant application and eligible smart controller product list is provided below.

Grant Information and Application
Approved Smart Controller Product List - Grant

For more information contact: 1-800-986-4538.

Multifamily Smart Controller Vouchers

Our discount voucher can reduce the cost of a 24-station controller by $600 . Vouchers can be redeemed by participating contractors or irrigation suppliers. Click here for additional details.

Your property may be eligible for discounts on weather-based irrigation controllers. These smart controllers can help maximize your landscape investments and reduce expenses.

For an application and more information click here.

For more information contact: 1-800-986-4538.

Single-Family Rotating Nozzle Rebates

The SoCal Water$mart program offers a rebate of up to $4 per rotating nozzle for single-family properties.

Click here for more details, or call 1-888-376-3314.

Water Savings Performance Program (Residential Sites Over One Acre)

Metropolitan Water District provides $195 per acre foot of water saved or about $3 per 1,000 gallons saved to sites within San Diego County. Incentive is based on the potential for savings over 5 years. Eligible project costs include labor, hardware and up to 1 year of water management fees.

Click here for more information, or call (213) 217-6616.

California-Friendly Home Incentives

Smart and sustainable landscaping is the most visible feature of the California Friendly Home, with outdoor spaces designed in harmony with the surrounding environment using beautiful and less-than-thirsty plants, state-of-the-art irrigation controllers and precision sprinkler heads. The water-wise ethic extends inside the home as well, using the latest water-saving technology in the bathroom and laundry room.

For more information, please click here, or call 213-217-7693.

Agricultural Water Management Program

The Agricultural Water Management Program provides free irrigation system evaluations to agricultural properties with two or more acres of irrigated crop or grove. Emission uniformity and pressure readings are determined for the irrigation system and recommendations are given along with crop data and technical information about the particular type of irrigation equipment in use. The program is free to all agricultural irrigators in the Water Authority's service area. For additional program information or to schedule an agricultural survey, please call Mission Resource Conservation District at (760) 728-1332.

Water Authority Contact: Lori Swanson
Phone Number: (858) 522-6768
Email: lswanson@sdcwa.org