This Week's Spotlight Is On...

This week’s Water District of the Week is the Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District (RDMWD) of San Diego County. The Rincon district covers a service area in the greater Escondido Valley. This district was selected for its dedication to water conservation and its community-oriented approach to water-use education. The Rincon district provides a plethora of useful water-saving tips and encourages water conservation through a number of creative channels.

This district has implemented a “mandatory 8% reduction in use,” both for the district at-large and for individual consumers. Rincon district is also asking customers to only water between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. and to fix all leaks within 72 hours of being notified by the water district. According to Rincon, “water conservation is an integral component of the District’s long-term strategy… conservation is a low-cost resource that assists in reducing the demand for imported water as well as reducing consumption during periods of high water demands.”

General water-saving tips offered by the district include:

• Avoid using garbage disposals
• Check your faucets inside and outside for leaks
• Water your landscape in the early morning (coolest part of the day)
• Maintain your irrigation system, fix any broken parts
• Adjust irrigation run-times to avoid excess water waste

Homeowners are offered financial incentives by the Rincon water district for the purchase of water-saving devices. All of the rebates are available through BeWaterWise.com. The Rincon district offers rebates on the purchase of smart sprinkler controllers which the district describes as being an “effective technology for reducing water usage outdoors.” Smart sprinklers such as Cyber-Rain can automatically shut off in the rain and can be adjusted for watering times based on your terrain, types of plants, slope and other preferences. Rebates from the Rincon district for smart sprinkler controllers are at minimum $230 (for single-family homes of under 1 acre) to at least $630 per acre (for single-family homes on one acre or more).

The Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District reaches out not only to homeowners, but to all residents, through educational programs for students in elementary to high school. Educational opportunities are also available for teachers and adults with interest. The Rincon district is overseeing a recycled water project to use for irrigation “while helping to protect our community from potential water shortages.” Tips on landscaping are offered plentifully through the district, which also encourages visitors to see a model garden that demonstrates Xeriscape principles. Those interested in learning about drought-tolerant, native California plants (which require less water than the typical plant) can read “California friendly plants” courtesy of the Rincon district! Some of these include the African sumac, the California Lilac, the varieties of lavender and the Verbena. The plant names are accompanied by pictures and descriptions.