New web features offer more water-saving tools

by Luis Generoso, Water Resources Manager

The City of San Diego Water Department’s Water Conservation website now has more to offer for the start of the New Year. Among the various water conservation resources already available, the website is introducing two new features: the Low Water Use Drought Tolerant Plant List and the Water Conservation Certificate Verification System. Both features will help to make conserving water easier for the residents, businesses, and property owners of San Diego.

      The Low Water Use Drought Tolerant Plant List provides a large selection of water-conserving plants that are able to grow with little or no additional irrigation. The easily accessible list will help San Diegans integrate water conscious plants into their landscaping. The list consists of more than 100 different plants, organized by the following categories: Annual Wildflowers, Perennial Wildflowers, Groundcovers, Vines, Succulents, Shrubs and Trees. Conserving water in the garden has never been so easy!

      The Water Conservation Certificate Verification System is now accessible through the Internet. Property owners, buyers, real estate or escrow agents can now verify on the water conservation website if a property has a valid certificate on file that meets the requirement of San Diego Municipal Code Section 147.04 – Retrofit Upon Change of Property Ownership. This municipal code requires that all buildings in San Diego be certified as water-conserving structures prior to changing ownership. Sellers of property are required to ensure that plumbing fixtures conserve water by signing and submitting a Water Conservation Certificate to the City of San Diego Water Conservation Program.

      The website is also full of other helpful resources to aid San Diego residents make water-wise choices a way of life. Available resources include:

  • The Landscape Watering Calculator helps determine the appropriate amount of water your landscape requires throughout the different seasons of the year.
  • The Ultra-Low Flush Toilet Voucher Program provides vouchers of up to $75 to residents who purchase qualifying ultra-low flush toilets.
  • The Water Conservation Garden located at Cuyamaca College offers community members the opportunity to learn water-efficient gardening options, as well as alternative irrigation and watering methods.
  • The High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Voucher Program provides vouchers worth up to $125 to residents who purchase qualifying high-efficiency clothes washers that are both water and energy efficient.

Visit www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation for immediate access to all of these helpful water-conserving resources and information.

      The Water Conservation Program reduces water demand through promoting or providing incentives for the installation of hardware that provides permanent water savings, and by providing services and information to help San Diegans make better decisions about water use. For more information about Water Conservation, visit www.sandiego.gov/water or call (619) 515-3500.