Water Supply and Water-Use Restrictions
Water Supply Update
Water supply in local drinking water reservoirs, Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma, has recovered after reaching historically low levels following three years of severe drought.
Now that the reseviors are full, Santa Rosa City Council rescinded the city’s water shortage emergency on March 14, 2023. The water shortage emergency had been in place since June 29, 2021 and included a 20% communitywide reduction and restrictions on water use.
Although there is no longer a local water shortage emergency, Santa Rosa will still need to comply with the city’s water waste ordinance and all existing statewide emergency water conservation regulations adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board. (See below for additional details)
Santa Rosa Water is thankful to our community for working together to achieve water savings during this water shortage emergency and for your continued efforts to be WaterSmart. To combat the drought, Santa Rosans reduced water use by 18% and saved 1.8 billion gallons of water.
To learn more about current water supply levels and rainfall totals, visit:
- Local Rainfall Totals
- Regional Water Supply Levels
- Sonoma Water OneRain
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Now Available: 2022 Water Quality Report
Santa Rosa’s Water Quality Report is now available! The Water Quality Report outlines Santa Rosa Water’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards. Additional Info... -
Water Efficiency is the Santa Rosa Way of Life!
Although the drought is over, water efficiency is the Santa Rosa way of life so don’t stop your water saving habits now! One great way to save water is to test your toilets for leaks or replace your old toilet with incentives offered by Santa Rosa Water. Additional Info... -
2023 Water-Use Efficiency Awards
In celebration of Water Awareness Month, Santa Rosa City Council recognized five award recipients for their efforts to save water and increase water efficiency in their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses. Read on... -
Santa Rosans Transform 4 Million Square Feet of Grass Into Water-Saving Landscapes
Thanks to the commitment of Santa Rosa’s community to save water, residents and businesses in the city have transformed over 4 million square feet of grass into beautiful, water-saving landscapes. Read on... -
NEW Toilet Replacement Rebate Available
Replace your 1.6 gallon per flush (or more) toilet with a new WaterSense labeled high-efficiency toilet and receive a rebate (up to) $75 per toilet. Additional Info... -
Everything You Need to Know About Rainwater Harvesting
With an average annual rainfall in Santa Rosa of 30 inches, you could harvest and reuse over 19,800 gallons of water per year with that 1,000 square foot roof. Additional Info... -
Team Spotlight: Santa Rosa’s Water Use Efficiency Team Helping Community Achieve Water Savings
Santa Rosa’s eight-person Water Use Efficiency (WUE) team is committed to helping you save water! This team offers WaterSmart rebates, free water-saving devices, and expert advice to all Santa Rosa Water customers. Additional Info... -
Drought Resources For Businesses
Santa Rosa’s team is here to help with free water saving devices, rebates to achieve permanent water savings, and more. For businesses, Santa Rosa Water is offering $1.50 per sq. ft. of turf removed, up to max of 10,000 sq. ft. or $15,000.00 annually. Additional Info... -
Water Supply Update - August 18, 2022
To combat the drought, Santa Rosa implemented drought restrictions and adopted a 20% communitywide water-savings target in June of 2021. For the months of July 2021 through July 2022 the community has reduced water use by 18%. Additional Info... -
WaterSmart Rebates: Earn up to $100 and Save with a Graywater System
Reusing your wash water is as simple as installing a laundry-to-landscape graywater system. Read on... -
WaterSmart Plant Picker
Scroll through beautiful, lush, colorful, low water use shrubs, flowers, and trees that thrive in our climate with the easy-to-use WaterSmart Plant Picker. Additional Info... -
During Drought, Take Your Car to a Professional Car Wash to Save Water
A commercial car wash can use between 35 and 120 gallons of water per vehicle, depending on the type of system. Facilities that recycle their water are the most efficient, so seek those out. Better yet why not drive a dirty car. Additional Info... -
Hire a QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper) Pro for Your WaterSmart Landscaping Needs
Hire a QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper) Pro for your WaterSmart landscaping needs. QWEL Pros have been trained in efficient irrigation principles and sustainable landscaping practices. Find a QWEL Pro today! Additional Info... -
Schedule an Irrigation Checkup
The drought is still here, and?Santa Rosa Water wants to make sure your yard and irrigation system are WaterSmart. Schedule your free in-person irrigation checkup today! Additional Info... -
Water Saving Tips from Danny at True North Landscapes, Inc.
Danny highlights the water-saving techniques he uses to reduce water-use year-round, as well as simple everyday habits you can adopt to become a super water saver too. Read on... -
Looking for a Water Efficient Landscaper?
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Pros have been trained in efficient irrigation principles and sustainable landscaping practices - hire a QWEL landscaper today! Additional Info... -
July is Smart Irrigation Month
During the hot summer months nearly 50 percent of water is used outdoors, so this July, let’s all do our part to focus on finding ways to save water outdoors. Additional Info... -
State Water Board Emergency Water Conservation Regulations
Learn details and updates on State Water Board emergency regulations that pertain to water conservation. Additional Info... -
Outdoor Water-Use Accounts for Nearly 50% of Summertime Use
?Installing efficient irrigation for your garden can be a water saver, time saver, and plant saver when done right. Read on... -
Schedule a WaterSmart Check-up!
Ever wondered how efficient your property is? Schedule a FREE indoor and outdoor WaterSmart Check-up with one of our water-saving technicians today. Additional Info...
All current restrictions are listed below. Previous drought prohibitions, including on powerwashing, are no longer active.
Water waste due to breaks, leaks, and excess use is prohibited.
- This includes leaking faucets, toilets, and appliances, as well as broken irrigation pipes, leaking irrigation valves, and broken sprinkler heads, and runoff from properties due to overwatering or mis-directed sprinklers.
- Report Water Waste
Commercial, industrial, institutional non-functional turf must not be watered. Exceptions apply.
- Effective June 10, 2022, commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) non-functional turf must not be irrigated in California pursuant to recently adopted State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) regulations. Homeowners Associations’ common areas, unless it meets one of the other exemptions listed below, are included in this turf irrigation ban.
- The State has defined non-functional turf as, “Turf that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events.”
- The State Water Board’s regulation states that some turf areas are exempt from the turf irrigation ban. The CII turf may still be watered after June 10, 2022 if the property owner or account holder determines that one or more of the following is true:
- The turf is used for human recreation, civic purposes, sports or play.
- The turf is irrigated with recycled water.
- The turf is irrigated with non-potable water (water that is not permitted for use as a drinking water supply).
- The turf is on the same valve as at least one tree or perennial non-turf plantings.
- The turf is owned by a resident or within an apartment complex, not at a commercial, industrial, or institutional location. The exception to this is common areas in Homeowners Associations sites. Unless one of the above exemptions applies, HOA common areas are included in this turf irrigation ban.
- This emergency regulation adopted under Water Code section 1058.5 may remain in effect for up to one year, unless rescinded earlier, or extended by the State Water Board.
- Please go to the State Water Board’s Water Conservation Emergency Regulations webpage for more information: bit.ly/conservationreg.
Track Your Water Usage Online
The best first step to achieving water savings is understanding how much water you use and when you use it. Santa Rosa’s WaterSmart Portal makes it easy for you to track and analyze your water use online and set alerts for high water-use. To access this water-saving tool, all you need to do is register your account using your customer number, account number, and last billed amount. Sign up today!
Cash For Grass Rebate
Get paid to save water with our Cash for Grass rebate! The savings really adds up when you transform your lawn into a beautiful WaterSmart garden. For every square foot of grass transformed into a WaterSmart landscape receive $1.00, with a maximum rebate of $1,000. Irrigation efficiency rebates are also available. Please note, a pre-inspection is required before any work is started, so schedule an appointment today!
Replace old fixtures with FREE WaterSmart devices. Santa Rosa residents can pickup FREE water-saving devices Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 69 Stony Circle, Santa Rosa.
Water-Saving Tips
Santa Rosa Water is here to help you save water with tips, free water-saving devices, rebates, and more.
Outdoors
- Make sure all hoses have an automatic shut off nozzle (we provide free nozzles!).
- Limit irrigation to the hours of 8pm to 6am (less evaporation).
- Use the City’s weekly WaterSmart irrigation recommendations to adjust irrigation schedules.
- Replace high water use turf with low water use landscaping (contact us first – you could get a rebate!)
- Sweep hard surfaces instead of using water (driveways, sidewalks, patios).
- If you need to get your car washed, go to sites that recycled the water.
- Cover pools and spas when not in use to prevent evaporation.
- Install a greywater system so you can reuse your laundry water to irrigate your yard (contact us first – you could get a rebate!).
- Install rainwater capture system so you can reuse rain water later (contact us first – you could get a rebate!).
Indoors
- Complete a do-it-yourself WaterSmart check up (we provide kits!).
- Check toilets for leaks every few months (we provide free dye tabs!)
- Replace old showerheads with high efficiency models (we provide these to customers for free!).
- Fix leaks quickly.
- Replace old faucet aerators with high efficiency fixtures (we provide these to customers for free!)
- Take shorter showers.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving.
- Only run dishwashers and clothes washers with full loads.
- Install hot water recirculating pumps (contact us first – you could get a rebate!).
Has your private well gone dry? Report your household water shortage.
Californians experiencing water supply shortages with their private household wells (not for residents served by Santa Rosa Water) are encouraged to submit the Water Household Shortage Report. Document your private water supply shortage in a few easy steps and find available resources.
*The information collected is intended to inform state and local agencies on drought impacts pertaining to household water supplies from private well or surface water sources.
Water Efficient Landscapes: Guidance for Homeowners Associations (HOAs) - Click Here
Disclaimer: Santa Rosa Water is providing this information to guide HOAs and homeowners, particularly as the City, the County, and the State are implementing measures to deal with the ongoing drought emergency. This is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. HOAs and/or their individual homeowner members should seek legal advice where appropriate or work with the relevant public agency in the event that any questions arise about specific matters relating to HOAs and the legal restrictions that apply to HOA governance or the legal rights of residents within an HOA.