The Water Authority's residential water conservation programs have been highly effective in achieving water conservation savings.  The programs listed below are designed to achieve water savings in the single-family and multifamily residential sectors. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please click on any of the links below for more information.

Residential High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates
Single-Family Smart Landscape Evaluations (Formerly Indoor and Outdoor Surveys)
Residential Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebates
Multifamily Smart Landscape Evaluations (Formerly Large Landscape Audits)
Residential Rotating Nozzle Rebates
Agricultural Water Management Program

Overview of Water Efficiency Rebates for Residents (PDF)

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 55% less water, 30% less energy, require 50% less drying time, 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 4.0 or less. The Metropolitan Water District operates the program on behalf of the Water Authority, its member agencies, and San Diego Gas and Electric. Rebates start at $135.

Please visit SoCal Water Smart or call 1-888-376-3314, for more information.

For additional residential energy efficiency rebates, please visit SDG&E.

NEW - For a limited time beginning on April 22, 2010, an additional rebate of $100 on qualifying high-efficiency clothes washers may be available through the California Cash for Appliances Program.  For program information, please visit www.cash4appliances.org.  For a list of high-efficiency clothes washers that qualify for both the SoCal WaterSmart rebate and the California Cash for Appliances rebate, please click here.

Single-Family Smart Landscape Evaluations (Formerly Indoor and Outdoor Surveys)

A Smart Landscape Evaluation is a free service designed to assist customers of participating agencies with the identification of indoor and outdoor water savings opportunities. Participants can expect to have technicians review indoor fixtures and evaluate the performance of the site’s irrigation system. At the end, the participant will receive a list of recommendations and a proposed watering schedule. To enroll please contact (866) 883-1332, unless you are a customer of one of the following agencies, in which case please call the number corresponding to your agency to request the service.

Back to top

Residential Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebates

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. Incentives start at $80 per controller for sites less than an acre. For residential sites one acre or larger, incentives start at $25 per station. Rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the controller.

Please visit SoCal WaterSmart or call 1-888-376-3314, for more information.

Multifamily Smart Landscape Evaluations (Formerly Large Landscape Audits)

A Smart Landscape Evaluation is a free service designed to assist multifamily customers of participating agencies with the identification of outdoor water savings opportunities.

Participants will receive a report outlining site specific irrigation and maintenance recommendations as well as plant alternatives designed to reduce water waste and use. To enroll please contact
(866) 883-1332 unless you are a customer of one of the following agencies, in which case please call the number corresponding to your agency to request the service.

Back to top

Residential Rotating Nozzle Rebates

The SoCal WaterSmart Program offers a rebate starting at $3 per rotating nozzle for residential properties.

Please visit SoCal WaterSmart or call 1-888-376-3314, for more information.

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

Back to top