This week’s Water District of the Week is the Padre Dam Municipal Water District (PDMWD) of San Diego County. The PDMWD serves 125,000 people in communities such as Crest, El Cajon, Harbison Canyon, Blossom Valley and Lakeside. The mission of this water district is to “provide quality water, recycled water, park and recreational facilities, and wastewater management services for our customers” in the most cost-effective way possible. Accountability, integrity, competence and trust are some favored words in the mission statement of this district, so it’s no wonder that the PDMWD encourages responsible water use practices.

This week's Water District of the Week is the Padre Dam Municipal Water District!

In the name of water conservation and sustainability, the Padre Dam Municipal Water District encourages consumers (both homeowners and the private sector) to invest in long-term solutions to water problems. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to purchase “smart” irrigation controllers and high-efficiency toilets, dishwashers and clothes washers. These are some of the leading in-home devices which are known to use the greatest amounts of water (with irrigation systems estimated to account for between 50-60% of water use in a typical home). With more refined technology and modern updates, the very same devices can help homeowners cut down significantly on daily water usage, and on water bills.

Another way in which residents can save water and save money, courtesy of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, is through a free residential water use/landscape survey. Once you complete the survey, if it appears that your average water use is higher than expected, a water specialist can be dispatched to provide assistance and give advice.. The water expert dispatched to your home can also help you determine if there are leaks in your pipes or irrigation systems, and can offer advice on which water-saving devices may be most appropriate for your home use.

This water district also reaches out to the community for water use education programs, and offers free water expert chats for those seeking more detailed information on water use. A free San Diego watering calculator (courtesy of the City of San Diego) is one free way to save water. The watering calculator, like the Cyber-Rain smart scheduling wizard, advises residents of how much water they should be giving their landscape per month. Like the Cyber-Rain system, this is a tool to help you save water by determining a precise water need. To find your specific watering needs, you are prompted to enter your zip code, the type of landscape (i.e. front yard), types of plants in your landscape, type of soil and type of watering system.

Do-it-yourself customer water audits and the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College are just some of the other excellent local resources for San Diego citizens looking to save water, and save it now!