In response, the Olivenhain Municipal Water District and San Dieguito Water District are asking Encinitas residents to step-up and help Californians across the state manage the drought. The water districts strongly encourage their customers to follow these conservation actions:

• Limit landscape watering to three or less assigned days per week:
• Odd-numbered addresses: water on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Even-numbered addresses: water on Saturdays, Monday and Wednesdays
• Limit effects of evaporation by watering before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
• Limit landscape irrigation with sprinklers to 10 minutes or less per water station, per assigned day
• Turn off water during rain and for 48 hours after
• Cut down on water waste from inefficient watering such as runoff or overspray
• Reduce water for landscapes and car washes by using a container such as a bucket or watering can, and a hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle or low-volume, non-spray irrigation
• Do not use potable water to irrigate non-functional turf (not regularly used for human recreational purposes, community events or sports) at commercial, industrial and institutional sites

General water conservation actions:

• Do not wash down paved or hard surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways and parking lots with potable water, except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitation hazards
• Repair all water leaks within 72 hours of detection or notification
• Stop operation of decorative fountains unless re-circulated or recycled water is used
• Serve and refill water in restaurants and food service establishments only upon request
• Offer guests in lodging establishments the option of not laundering towels and linens daily
• Use recycled or non-potable water for construction purposes when feasible

Please visit watersmartsd.org for water-saving rebates or incentives for your home or business.

For complimentary, site-specific water-saving recommendations from a certified irrigation professional, please visit or email your water district below.

• Olivenhain Municipal Water District provides services to portions of Encinitas, Carlsbad, San Diego, Solana Beach, and neighboring communities. Customers can visit olivenhain.com/evaluation to learn more, or email [email protected] with any questions.
• San Dieguito Water District serves the communities of Leucadia, Old Encinitas, Cardiff, and portions of New Encinitas. Customers can visit watersmartcheckup.org to learn more, or email [email protected] with any questions.

Since the challenging drought of the early 1990s, the San Diego region has made investments in conservation programs and a diverse portfolio of drought-resilient water supplies. As a result, the region has conserved substantial amounts of water and has sufficient water supplies for 2022 and the foreseeable future.