MAKING CONSERVATION A CALIFORNIA WAY OF LIFE
To build on the water conservation objectives established by SB 606 (Hertzberg) and AB 1668 (Friedman), the State Water Resources Control Board issued orders to urban water suppliers, like Rowland Water District (RWD), on the need to achieve permanent conservation goals to ensure water reliability. This is primarily in response to declining water levels of the Colorado River and a climate that experiences extreme and varying weather conditions.

One requirement is for urban water retailers to establish and meet a water use objective. For Rowland Water District, the State has set this water use objective at a 31% reduction in water use effective January 1, 2025.
 

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT RWD & OUR COMMUNITY
Rowland Water District must cut water use by 31% under this mandate from the State of California. Failure to meet this target may result in penalties. That’s why every effort, big or small, you make in decreasing water use will contribute to California’s long-term goal of sustainable water use.


DISCOVER WATER SAVINGS PROGRAMS
Curious about how much water your landscape really needs? Our FREE Residential Water Use Survey takes a close look at your outdoor watering habits and provides customized tips to help curb water use while maintaining a healthy yard. Click on this link to learn more on how to schedule your FREE survey.  

Additional residential water savings rebates are available to RWD customers through the Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD) SoCal Water$mart programs. Visit https://socalwatersmart.com/en/residential/# to identify available programs and to verify your eligibility.

CURRENT WATER USE RESTRICTIONS
Landscape irrigation is only permitted on Mondays and Fridays.  Also, no watering or irrigation between the hours of  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  RWD is currently in a Level 2 Water Supply Contingency Plan which establishes water conservation measures. Visit our Drought Update page for more information on restrictions on water use under this water supply shortage level.

Please check back here for any new updates and developments on the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation. Meanwhile, our team will continue monitoring water supply conditions and enact appropriate measures if they become necessary.

Conservation Tips

Indoor

  • Use the washing machine and dishwasher only when full.

  • Check for leaks regularly – toilets, sinks, showers and tubs.

  • Use a shower timer and keep your shower under 5 minutes.

  • Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator not under running water.

Outdoor

  • Water in the early morning, or late at night.

  • Turn sprinklers off when it rains, is windy or cloudy.

  • Use drought tolerant plants in landscaping.

  • Clean your driveway and sidewalk with a broom.

Take Action to Save Water

In 2020, Rowland Water District launched an exciting, innovative website focused on user-friendly information and resources related to water conservation. What’s Your Water Footprint? offers tools to monitor your ‘water footprint’ and most importantly, how to immediately change your water use behaviors.

PUBLIC AGENCIES

  1. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass…if it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn’t need water. So set your sprinklers for less frequent watering…saves 750 to 1500 gallons a month. Better yet, in times of drought, water with a hose.
  2. Fix all plumbing and irrigation leaks…saves about 20 gallons a day for each leak stopped.
  3. Don’t run the hose while washing your car…use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end…saves 150 gallons each time. That’s a significant amount of water if you wash your cars frequently.
  4. Install water saving shower heads …saves 500 to 800 gallons a month.
  5. Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher…saves 300 to 800 gallons a month.
  6. Take shorter showers…even a one or two-minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons a month.
  7. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks…saves 150 gallons or more each time. At once a week, that’s more than 600 gallons a month.
  8. Replace your old water guzzling toilet (3.5 to 7 gallons per flush, gpf) with a new ultra-low flush toilet (1.6 gpf)…saves over 700 gallons a month.
  9. Capture tap or shower water. While you wait for hot water, catch the flow in a container to use later on house plants or in the garden…saves 400 to 600 gallons a month.
  10. Don’t water the sidewalks, driveway, street, or the side of your house. Adjust sprinklers so the water lands on your lawn or garden – where it belongs…saves 500 gallons a month.

  1. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Shredded leaves/bark, peat moss or gravel slows down evaporation…saves 750 to 1500 gallons a month.
  2. If you have a pool, use a cover to cut down on evaporation…it will also keep the pool cleaner…saves 1000 gallons a month.
  3. Water during the cool parts of the day. Early mornings are better than evenings since it will help prevent fungus and mildew growth…saves 300 gallons a month.
  4. Don’t water on windy days when evaporation is high…this can waste up to 300 gallons in one watering.
  5. Cut down watering schedules during the cool, rainy season…adjust or deactivate your automatic irrigation timer…saves up to 300 gallons each time.
  6. Set your lawn mower blades (or ask your gardener) one notch higher…longer grass means less evaporation…saves 500 to 1500 gallons a month.
  7. If your home has an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain line to a garden area or the base of a tree or shrub.
  8. If your children play in the sprinklers during hot weather, make sure it’s at the time your lawn needs watering anyway.
  9. Take your car to a car wash if you can…generally, most car washes filter and recycle a high percentage of the wash/rinse water which is very resource efficient.
  10. If you’re working around the yard or house, clean up with waterless hand cleaner rather than under a steady stream from the faucet…saves 7 to 10 gallons each time.
  11. At a restaurant, let the waiter or waitress know if you don’t want water…it saves that water and the water it would have taken to wash the glass…collectively saves millions of gallons a year.
  12. Replace high-water using trees, shrubs, and plants (especially lawns) with less thirsty ones. But remember, even drought-resistant plantings take extra water to get them established in the garden. Save up to 750 to 1500 gallons per month.