Outdoor Water Use & Landscaping |
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Interested in Water-Wise Gardening?
Landscape Water Audits/Budgets California American Water and the MPWMD provide audits and landscape water budgets free of charge to all water users of California American Water that have dedicated landscape meters or large irrigated areas over three acres, and to all large residential water users that use more than 320 units per month average as required by MPWMD Rule 172. Landscape Water Audits are needed to establish a Landscape Water Budget. A Landscape Water Budget is the maximum annual water allowance in gallons per year, determined upon completion of a Landscape Water Audit by a Landscape Irrigation Auditor certified by the Irrigation Association. The Landscape Water Budget is the amount of water necessary to maintain the existing landscaping. The budget takes into consideration the types of plants, existing soil condition, Evapotranspiration rates and the type of Irrigation System installed. Stage 2 Water Conservation (and higher stages) requires implementation of Landscape Water Budgets to attain water reductions to stay within the annual water use limit. During Stage 2, all water users required to have a Landscape Water Budget are required to manage outdoor irrigation within their budget. Use in excess of the established Landscape Water Budget is considered Water Waste and is subject to Water Waste fees and enforcement. |
Reuse (Rainwater, Greywater) Do your part to save potable water by installing a Cistern on your property. Rainwater can be collected from your roof and all other hard-scaped surfaces and stored in tank or Cistern. The water can then be used in the dry season to water your lawn or to keep your flowerbed blooming while keeping your water bill low. Rebates are available as well! Please see the Rebates Page for more information.
CIMIS MPWMD, in concert with the California Dept of Water Resources, recently installed the first California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) station on the Monterey Peninsula. It is located just inside the mouth of the Carmel Valley at Rancho Canada Golf Club. A CIMIS station collects weather information including temperature, wind speed, and rainfall amounts. It will allow irrigators to more accurately calculate the amount of water a landscape will require on a given day. Cash for Grass Rebate is now offered for the removal of turf and replacement with low water use plants. Please see the Rebates page for more information. Large Landscape Grants California American Water will be offering grants designed to encourage schools, parks and cities to upgrade irrigation equipment. Funding is available for items such as weather-sensitive irrigation controllers, rain sensors and high-efficiency sprinkler-heads. Technologies including water budget management systems, weather-based timers and specialized irrigation systems that minimize water loss and maximize efficiency are also eligible for the program. For more information, contact the California American Water conservation department at (831) 646-3205. |
