Water Conservation for Residents & Businesses

Water is one of the few essentials in life! Households, businesses, and water suppliers all play a vital role in safeguarding this precious resource for future generations. By participating in conservation programs and making thoughtful choices at home and at work, we can all help ensure reliable water access for tomorrow.

Water conservation is our way of life!   

Here in Watsonville, we are fortunate to have a local source of water and to have it be managed by our own municipality. Using water efficiently is a community priority and the quickest response we can have to drought conditions. Businesses, schools, and all residents must follow the measures below to conserve water in accordance with the City’s regulations:  

• Prohibited using water in a way that it runs off onto the street  
• No watering of landscapes between 9:00am and 5:00pm, except by drip irrigation or hand watering 
• Outdoor watering must not allow water to run off and onto sidewalks or streets
• Hoses must have shut-off nozzles
• Paved or hard surfaces must not be washed with water, except for health and safety reasons
• Leaks, breaks, or malfunction within plumbing must be repaired immediately
• At-home car washing not allowed, except by bucket over grass

California's law against watering nonfunctional grass with drinking water 

Assembly Bill 1572, passed in October of 2023, is a state law that prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on commercial, institutional, and multifamily residential properties. The goal is to remove non-functional turf grass—areas that exist only for ornamental purposes —and replacing it with sustainable, low-water-use landscapes. The term “nonfunctional turf” means any turf that is not functional for recreational use.  

The law introduces this ban gradually, as outlined below: 

• Public Properties: Convert turf by the end of 2026
• Commercial & Industrial Properties: Convert turf by the end of 2027
• Homeowner Associations (HOAs): Convert turf by the end of 2028

Certification for Compliance will be required – Noncompliance will result in penalties, or water service discontinuation, making proactive planning essential. 

Taking early steps to replace non-functional turf will not only keep your property compliant but also provide access to limited-time rebates for updates. 

Resources & Incentives

The City of Watsonville generously supports water conservation by providing free resources and incentives for both businesses and residents alike who want to help us meet our water conservation goals while saving money at the same time.

Free Water Consultation  

Trained staff will visit your home or business to evaluate your landscape and indoor water use. They will make specific recommendations tailored to your needs while providing incentives and rebates for modifications.

Landscape Water Conservation Rebate: The City of Watsonville offers a $2.00 per square foot rebate for customers to replace high-water-use lawns and areas irrigated by sprinklers with drought-tolerant, permeable landscaping and efficient irrigation equipment. Interested customers are eligible for a replacement rebate of up to $2,000 for residents and $4,000 for multi-family, commercial, or institutional customers. Edible perennials and fruit trees may be included in landscape conversion projects.

The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency

Offers rebates of $30 per rain barrel, $0.30 per gallon for rainwater harvesting, and $400 for laundry-to-landscape greywater irrigation. Complete this rebate form or call (831) 722-9292.

Washing Machine Replacement Rebate

$100 rebate should you purchase a new Energy Star Certified Washing Machine to replace less efficient washing machine models.  Complete this form.

Plumbing Retrofit Water Conservation Certification Program

Visit our Plumbing Retrofit Water Conservation Certification Program page to learn about the requirements when selling/buying a home. 

Report Water Waste 

Residents can help by reporting water waste. Please send an email about water waste to waterwaste@watsonville.gov. Please include the following information in order for us to respond to your report. 

• Address of the water waste you observed
• Time of day you observed the water being wasted
• A brief description and a clear photo of how water was being wasted

Please consider letting your lawn go brown — or even better, replacing it with a drought-resistant landscape through our Landscape Rebate Program.