ACWD's Water Use Efficiency Efforts

Making Conservation a California Way of Life

In 2018, then Governor Jerry Brown passed two landmark water conservation bills, AB 1668 and SB 606, directing the State of California to develop and adopt water use efficiency standards and performance measures for urban water suppliers. These efficiency standards are known as the “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life” regulation.

California has now adopted the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulation, which is intended to foster long-term water use efficiency practices to help address the state’s limited water supplies. The regulation assigns a water use objective for ACWD’s service area – not for individual customers or businesses. The water use objective provides for reasonable, efficient water use for all residential, commercial, and outdoor needs. ACWD is developing an implementation to plan to achieve the new water use objective.

Our customers’ efforts to conserve make a difference, help ensure our communities have access to a healthy water supply, and are key in helping ACWD achieve the new water use objective. Check out this page for regular updates on what ACWD is doing to achieve the objective, including ways we work with customers to increase water use efficiency!

For more information on Making Conservation a California Way of Life, please visit the State’s website.

Assembly Bill 1572

Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 is a California law aimed at conserving water and promoting sustainable landscaping by banning the irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water on:

• Public properties
• Commercial, industrial, and institutional properties
• Common areas managed by homeowner associations

This law supports California’s goals of reducing water use, increasing drought resilience, and addressing climate change. It reflects state policy that every drop of water must be used wisely. 

 Visit the California Water Efficiency Partnership’s (CalWEP) non-functional turf website to:

• Learn more about who is subject to the law and compliance timelines
• View examples of non-functional turf
• Take a quiz to help determine if your property has non-functional turf subject to the law
• Read about success stories for converting non-functional turf to water-efficient landscape
• View Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and other resources

To view the full legislative text, visit the California Legislative Information website. 

If you manage or are responsible for a site that will be affected by AB 1572, and believe you have functional turf that should be exempt, please let ACWD know by completing the Reporting Form for Functional Areas.

ACWD is here to help! While AB 1572 requires you to stop watering nonfunctional turf with potable water, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with dead grass. In fact, this is a great opportunity to rethink your landscape and make it more beautiful, resilient, and environmentally friendly. ACWD encourages customers to replace nonfunctional turf with water-efficient landscaping through its Lawn Be Gone rebate program. Learn more about the program. 

Transform visible turf areas into vibrant, water-wise gardens. This is ideal for: 

• Frontage lawns
• Decorative strips along sidewalks or driveways
• Entryways and high-visibility zones

Say no to artificial turf!  Artificial turf may seem like a low-maintenance alternative, but it comes with environmental and practical drawbacks. That’s why it’s not eligible for rebates through ACWD’s Lawn Be Gone rebate program. Artificial turf:  

• Can overheat and contribute to urban heat
• Doesn’t support soil life or biodiversity
• Requires eventual replacement and maintenance
• May contribute to runoff pollution and landfill waste

For a healthier, more sustainable option, we encourage customers to choose living landscapes that qualify for rebates and support long-term environmental goals. 

Other ACWD Water Use Efficiency Efforts

ACWD is committed to water use efficiency year-round at its office locations and operating facilities. These are a few ways ACWD is leading the way in using water wisely:

• Installation of a ReScape Rated Demonstration Garden located in front of the ACWD headquarters and available for all customers to visit. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour supported by interpretive signage throughout the garden. 
• Dry sweeping methods or a blower is used  to remove debris from pavement and walkways located at ACWD facilities instead of pressure washing.
• Fleet vehicles are washed at a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• Drought tolerant landscaping is standard at all ACWD facilities. Did you know that ACWD customers can receive a rebate for replacing lawns with water-efficient landscapes? Please visit ACWD's Rebate Page for more information.
• ACWD staff are certified landscape professionals with earned credentials from Qualified Water-Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) and ReScape (previously Bay-Friendly). Learn more about becoming QWEL certified.
• Before irrigation season, surveys are conducted on all facilities to find and fix outdoor leaks and avoid water waste from overspray, broken sprinkler heads, and broken pipes.
• Smart irrigation controllers that rely on real-time weather information and other water-efficient technology are installed at District facilities. Did you know that ACWD customers can receive a rebate for switching to smart irrigation? Please visit ACWD's Rebate Page for more information.
• Water-efficient fixtures are installed at all ACWD facilities. Did you know that ACWD customers can receive free water-efficient devices? Request your water-efficient devices.
• Modified the 2022 Main Cleaning Program (flushing) to include only dead-end mains, blow offs, and select areas that were identified as critical for water quality purposes.  This modification should result in approximately a 50% reduction in water used from the Main Cleaning Program in typical non-drought years. For more information visit ACWD's Main Cleaning Program Page. 
• Suspended routine fire hydrant flow testing.