community | droughtDrought
RECENT AND PAST DROUGHTS
California has experienced many periods of drought and weather extremes, which due to climate change, are occurring more frequently. The last two droughts were observed from 2014-2017 and from 2021-2023. In both those instances, California's Governor at the time (Newsom in 2021 and Brown in 2014) issued Drought Proclamation statewide and encouraged the State Water Board to prohibit certain wasteful water uses. Newsom's July 2021 Executive Order asked all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15 percent from their 2020 levels. Governor Brown's drought requirements were more agency-specific.
When the region enters a drought, BAWSCA and its member agencies encourage customers to use water wisely. Wise water use is particularly important during summer months, especially if the prior winter and spring seasons have been abnormally warm and dry. In those times, water customers are asked to remain vigilant, particularly around outdoor water use.
The region's primary water supplier, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), also asks all water customers to voluntary reduce their water use during times of drought.
Ways residents can reduce water use during the summer include routinely cutting irrigation time and reducing frequency of irrigation days, fixing leaks, and addressing irrigation problems like overspray.
BAWSCA offers a wide range of programs, rebates, and water conservation tips to help you reduce your outdoor and indoor water use including turf replacement incentives, water efficient landscaping classes, low-flow fixture replacement rebates, and much more!
Cal Water customers: visit calwater.com for rebate information.
Santa Clara County residents: visit valleywater.org for rebate information
PROGRAMS AND REBATES
- Lawn Be Gone! Rebate Program – This program provides rebates of $1-$4 per square foot
for replacing your lawn with sustainable, water efficient landscaping. There is an additional $300 rebate for the installation of a Rain Garden.
- Rain Barrel Rebate Program – This program, offered in partnership with the San Mateo Countywide Pollution Prevention Program, offers rebates of up to $200 for qualifying rain barrels.
- Smart Irrigation Controller Program – This program offers customers of participating water agencies
a Rachio 3 Smart Irrigation Controller at a discounted price of $100 + tax (MSRP: $279.99)
- Landscape Education Classes – This program offers FREE classes for homeowners and landscape
professionals on a variety of topics related to sustainable landscaping.
- Water-Wise Gardening Tool – Water-Wise Gardening in the Bay Area is full of information on how to garden beautifully while saving water. Use this tool to plan your beautiful, water-efficient landscaping.
- Irrigation Hardware Rebates – This program offers residents of participating water agencies rebates for the purchase and installation of irrigation equipment to enhance irrigation efficiency and to reduce water use.
- Residential Self-Audit Tool – This program offers the opportunity for residents of participating water agencies to order a conservation kit or follow online instructions to conduct a home water audit.
- Please visit BAWSCA’s Conservation Portal for more information on these programs and rebates!
OUTDOOR WATER SAVINGS TIPS
- Trim back your lawn’s watering schedule to 2 or 3 days only.
- Replace your lawn – rebates are available through the Lawn Be Gone! Program.
- Check your sprinkler heads and make any necessary repairs.
- Water during the cool part of the day.
- Use a broom to clean sidewalks and pavements instead of a hose.
- Use BAWSCA’s Water Calculator tool to optimize your irrigation schedule and keep your garden thriving while saving water.
INDOOR WATER SAVINGS TIPS
- Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth or doing dishes – saves 2 gallons per minute.
- Take shorter showers with high-efficiency showerheads. Each minute you cut saves 2.5 gallons.
- Operate your clothes and dishwashers with full loads only; even if the machine has an adjustable load setting.
- Detect leaks. Do you hear the toilet running or your faucet dripping? Contact your local water agency for information on locating your water meter and detecting plumbing leaks using meter readings. Conduct a dye-test in toilet tanks to identify silent leaks.
- Install aerators on bathroom/kitchen sinks to reduce water use by 4%.
- Replace your old toilet, the largest water user inside your home. High-efficiency toilet models flush at 1.28 gallons or less compared to older models, which use up to 7 gallons per flush.
- Replace your clothes washer, the second largest water user in your home. High efficiency clothes washers can reduce water and energy use by 40%.
ADDITIONAL DROUGHT INFORMATION
- BAWSCA's Statement Asking for Wise Water Use
- Visit Association of California Water Agencies’ Drought page for additional information regarding the Governor’s proclamation.
- Visit SFPUC’s Water Conservation Page for a list of programs offered to residents of San Francisco.
- Visit Valley Water’s Drought Page for a list of programs offered to residents of Santa Clara County.
- State Pages: