Dry winters remind us of the importance of our water supplies in Santa Barbara; we can help stretch our supplies during dry times by using water wisely every day. An abundance of water conservation information can be found on WaterWiseSB.org or by contacting your water provider. WaterWiseSB.org is the countywide resource for water conservation and contains: sprinkler scheduling tools, irrigation how-to videos, a water wise plant and garden database, and water conservation programs offered by each water provider.
City of Santa Barbara water customers have many water conservation programs to take advantage of to increase water efficiency and lower water bills. On average, half of a home’s water use goes outdoors to water gardens, and that is often where there is the most waste. The city offers a free indoor and outdoor water checkup to evaluate your sprinkler system and can teach you how to adjust a sprinkler timer for better efficiency. In addition, city water customers may be eligible for a rebate of up to $1,000 for homes and $4,000 for businesses to upgrade their high-water-using gardens to water-wise gardens.
Even though it is dry, plants only need infrequent watering in the winter months. Watering plants less often causes roots to grow deeper and makes plants stronger and healthier. City of Santa Barbara water customers can find more information about conservation programs by calling 564-5460. Let’s save together!