Creek Spotlight: Bird Nests

It’s bird nesting season in Santa Rosa! This is an exciting time of year for bird watchers and naturalists alike. From March through early September, Sonoma County is home to 90 different resident and migratory species of native songbirds (or pa...

2023 Water-Use Efficiency Awards

2023 Merit Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for Santa Rosa businesses, individuals and organizations that deserve recognition for their volunteerism in serving the community and improving the quality of life in Santa Rosa.

Nominations will be reviewed by the Merit ...

Clean California Community Days – Spring into Action!

This month, the City of Santa Rosa’s new community volunteer clean-up and beautification program Clean Santa Rosa is partnering with Caltrans for Clean California Community Days, an eleven-day, state-wide beautification event that kicks off Friday, March ...

Local Reservoirs Full; City Council Rescinds Water Shortage Emergency

The generous amounts of rain received by the Russian River Watershed this winter have fully restored water supply in our local drinking water reservoirs.

Santa Rosans Transform 4 Million Square Feet of Grass Into Water-Saving Landscapes

New Opportunities for Safe Medicine Disposal

Thanks to newly implemented statewide legislation, Sonoma and Mendocino County residents now have more convenient opportunities to safely dispose of their expired or unwanted medications and home-generated sharps waste. California Senate Bill 212...

Creek Stewardship Spring Volunteer Activities

Join the Creek Stewardship Team! We encourage anyone who lives, travels, or recreates along Santa Rosa's creeks to volunteer this fall to help keep our creeks clean and safe.

Water Supply Update - Jan. 11, 2023

RESERVOIRS ARE RECOVERING! We welcome in a new year, and the abundance of rain to Northern California. The recent storms have been filling up our reservoirs since New Year’s. While we cannot yet declare the drought over, this steady stretch of ra...

NEW Toilet Replacement Rebate Available

Ready to save up to 4,000 gallons of water per year? That's like showering for 44 hours!

Replace your 1.6 gallon per flush (or more) toilet with a new WaterSense labeled high-efficiency toilet and receive a rebate of up to $75 per toilet. A pre-i...

City Sandbag Filling Station Now Open for Rainy Season

The City’s sandbag filling station is open for residents throughout the rainy season. For City of Santa Rosa residents who need to control rain run-off on their property, sand and bags are available for free at the City Municipal Services Center North loc...

City to Receive $19.4 Million for Critical Sewer System Improvements

Santa Rosa, CA — The City of Santa Rosa’s $19.4 million environmental infrastructure authorization under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is included in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act. The City submitted the WRDA req...

Is Your Home Rain Ready? Simple Actions Have Big Impacts.

It's that time of year to rake leaves, clear gutters, and replace windshield wiper blades.  People caring for their homes can unknowingly impact local creeks. Materials swept, raked, stored, dropped, thrown, or spilled on the ground or pavement c...

Water Supply Update - Dec. 7, 2022

Everything You Need to Know About Rainwater Harvesting

Did you know that just 1 inch of water on a 1,000 square foot roof will yield over 600 gallons of water? 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 f...

Groundbreaking for Recycled Water Project

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, the City of Santa Rosa and its regional partners broke ground on a critical water recycling infrastructure replacement project at the Laguna Treatment Plant (Plant). The Plant, owned and operated by the City of Santa Rosa, is ...

Call for WaterSmart Gardens!

 The 2023 Eco-Friendly Garden Tour will take place in May and return to in-person! The tour will feature eco-friendly gardens throughout Sonoma and Marin counties. Due to the severity of the current drought, we want to focus on native, drought to...

Team Spotlight: Storm Water and Creeks

The City of Santa Rosa’s Storm Water and Creeks team is dedicated to enhancing and improving the health of Santa Rosa’s 100 miles of creeks. This dynamic team is comprised of engineers, technicians, biologists, and support staff that w...

Water Supply Update - September 22, 2022

Despite the welcome rain last weekend, the drought is still here. The supply conditions in Lake Sonoma, which stores a substantial portion the region’s drinking water, are historically low. Lake Sonoma holds multiple years of water supply for the region, ...

Creek Critter: River Otter

Did you know river otters are surprisingly common along Santa Rosa creeks, but it still takes persistence and some luck to see them? Viewing opportunities increase in the late summer because year-around waterways like Santa Rosa Creek are heavily used. Al...

Washing your Car at a Commercial Car Wash Saves Water and Protects our Creeks!

Professional car washing facilities capture and reuse wash water for treatment, stopping contaminants from flowing into our creeks and rivers that are home to variety of fish and other wildlife.

Team Spotlight: Santa Rosa’s Water Use Efficiency Team Helping Community Achieve Water Savings

Since 1991, the Water Use Efficiency team has been helping Santa Rosa residents reduce water use. In fact, this team has helped Santa Rosa achieve a 14% reduction in water use over the last 30 years, while the population has increased.

During this intense ...

Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project

On 5/19/22, the City of Santa Rosa celebrated the completion of Phase II of the Colgan Creek Restoration Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Once the Phase III is complete, the project will have transformed 1.3 miles of creek in southwest Santa Rosa.

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.

Water Supply Update - August 18, 2022

WaterSmart Rebates: Earn up to $100 and Save with a Graywater System

Why let laundry water go down the drain when you could reuse it to water your plants and trees? Reusing your wash water is as simple as installing a laundry-to-landscape graywater system. Santa Rosa Water even offers a graywater reuse rebate of u...

Free WaterSmart Devices

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.

Help Your Trees Survive Drought

Trees are one of the most valuable elements in your landscape. Urban trees combat climate change, provide shade, clean the air, enhance public health, and contribute to vibrant, sustainable communities. 

Water trees gradually and deeply to ensure ...

Creek Spotlight: American Mink (Neovison vison)

Our monthly Creek Spotlight features a particular plant or animal species that’s been active in our creeks lately. For August, we’re featuring the American mink (Neovison vison), which has been spotted recently in Santa Rosa Creek between Dutton Ave. and ...

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.

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!

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.

Saving Water Summer Pop Ups

Saving Water Summer Pop Up Events

Pop by the Santa Rosa Water booth at the following locations and pick up a free drought toolkit. 

Drought toolkits include:

• Bucket to capture water
• Showerhead and faucet aerators
• Toilet leak dye tabs
• Hose nozzle

Creek W...

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!

Water Supply Update - July 14, 2022

 Water Supply Update (7/14/22):

Water Saving Tips from Danny at True North Landscapes, Inc.

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!

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. Start today by ensuring compliance with the mandatory outdoor water use prohibitions: 

• C...

Kathy Herman: Laboratory Analyst of the Year Award

Santa Rosa Water is proud to announce that Kathy Herman has won the Laboratory Analyst of the year award for the Redwood Empire Section of the California Water Environment Association (CWEA). Kathy is a Principal Laboratory Analyst for the Laguna Treatmen...

State Water Board Emergency Water Conservation Regulations

Learn details and updates on State Water Board emergency regulations that pertain to water conservation.

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. The trick is finding and setting the system to water appropriately for all three. Choose drip instead of overhead sprinklers and receive a r...

Pick up a FREE “Drought is Here. Save Water.” Yard Sign for your Home or Business

Calling all Super Water Savers! Let your neighbors and community know about your commitment to saving water by picking up your FREE drought yard sign at 69 Stony Circle, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. When you drop-by our offices for your sign, don't ...

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.

Top 10 Water-Saving Tips

Santa Rosa Water is here to help you save water this summer with tips, free water-saving devices, rebates, and more.

1. Get to know your water use

• Do you know how much water you are using? 
• Check your water bill or view usage online

2. Find and Fix L...