San Diego, CA–May is Water Awareness Month and it’s important to remember that efficient water use is a way of life in San Diego and across California.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded a drought emergency proclamation to include 41 counties in the northern and central parts of the state.
Locally, permanent water use restrictions remain in effect regardless of the drought status. As the weather gets warmer and dryer in San Diego, the month of May is a good time to reflect on how water is essential in our lives and how it sustains us.
The City of San Diego imports between 85% and 90% of our water. With the rising cost of water and the importance of making San Diego more sustainable, using our water wisely is more important than ever. To help residents and businesses use less water, the city offers residents a number of incentives to reduce water consumption.
“Water is a precious resource that we can’t afford to squander,” said Shauna Lorance, Director of the city’s Public Utilities Department. “I urge all city residents to take the time and consider ways to reduce water usage.”
The city offers rebates for rain barrels, rain gutters and downspout redirects to help capture rainwater, reduce the need for irrigation and decrease the amount of pollutants in our storm drains, waterways and coastal waters. The city also provides rebates for graywater systems, which allow you to capture water used for washing purposes like your laundry, shower and sink, and reuse it for landscape irrigation.
Through partner agencies, city residents can receive rebates for replacing their turf lawns, installing smart irrigation systems and other water saving programs. Additionally, this is a good time to check your home for water leaks and damaged irrigation systems to make sure you’re not wasting water.
For more information on how you can save water and money, visit the city’s Water Conservation website at wastenowater.org.
