NOTE: Rebate reservations for SoCal Water Smart and Save-a-Buck rebate programs are available until June 30, 2009, or while funding lasts, whichever occurs first.

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 Indoor and Outdoor Surveys
Single-Family Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebates
Single-Family Synthetic Turf Program
Multifamily Large Landscape Audits
Multifamily Smart Landscape Grants
Multifamily Smart Controller Rebates
Single-Family Rotating Nozzles Rebates
Multifamily Rotating Nozzles Rebates
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 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.

Program funding is limited. Please call 1-888-376-3314 before purchasing a clothes washer to request a rebate reservation.

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

Multifamily 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 $135 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.

Program funding is limited. Please call 1-877-728-2282 before purchasing a clothes washer to request a rebate reservation.

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

Multifamily Toilet Rebates

The Save-A-Buck Program offers rebates of $100 for owners of apartments, condominiums, town homes, duplexes, triplexes, and mobile homes for the purchase of high-efficiency toilets. It's easy to participate.

Program funding is limited. Please call 1-877-728-2282 before purchasing a high-efficiency toilet to request a rebate reservation.

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 $100 for high-efficiency toilets (HETs) and upgrades. 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.

Program funding is limited. Please call 1-888-376-3314 before purchasing a toilet to request a rebate reservation.

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

Single-Family Indoor and Outdoor Surveys

Residential surveys are available to single family customers looking for help in reducing indoor and outdoor water use. Surveys are designed to identify potential leaks (indoor and outdoor), recommend water conserving devices, assess irrigation efficiency, and determine the proper landscape watering schedule. Please note: this free service requires review of indoor and outdoor practices. 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
Vallecitos Water District (760) 744-0460

Single-Family 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. Rebates start at $230 for single-family sites of less than one acre. A higher rebate may be available in your area. 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 $25 per station. Rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the controller.

Program funding is limited. Please call 1-888-376-3314 before purchasing an irrigation controller to request a rebate reservation.

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

Single-Family Synthetic Turf

Through the SoCal Water$mart program, the select agencies below are offering incentives to single-family homeowners for the installation artificial turf.

Helix Water District
Vallecitos Water District
Santa Fe Irrigation District
Vista Irrigation District

Program funding is limited. Please call 1-888-376-3314 before purchasing synthetic turf.

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

Multifamily Large Landscape Audits

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 request 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

Funding no longer available.

Enthusiastic participation in the regional Smart Landscape Program by landscape industry professionals and property owners has resulted in $5.25 million invested in irrigation repairs and upgrades since 2005. Thank you for contributing to this success! 

Multifamily Smart Controller Rebates

Funding no longer available.

Enthusiastic participation in the regional Smart Landscape Program by landscape industry professionals and property owners has resulted in $5.25 million invested in irrigation repairs and upgrades since 2005. Thank you for contributing to this success!

Single-Family Rotating Nozzle Rebates

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

Program funding is limited. Please call 1-888-376-3314 before purchasing rotating nozzles to request a rebate reservation.

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

Multifamily Rotating Nozzle Rebates

Funding no longer available.

Enthusiastic participation in the regional Smart Landscape Program by landscape industry professionals and property owners has resulted in $5.25 million invested in irrigation repairs and upgrades since 2005. Thank you for contributing to this success!

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