What is being done to combat drought in the Southwest?
Learn more about the progressive and proactive proposals and projects being pursued in the face of drought and climate change.
Santa Barbara Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant
The City’s desalination plant uses state-of-the-art technology and design practices to reduce electrical demand and environmental impacts, while providing a critical water supply for the City.
Carlsbad Desalination Plant
Located in San Diego County, CA, at the Encina Power Station, The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is the largest salt water desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere and provides 50 million gallons of desalinated seawater per day. The only water supply in San Diego County that is not dependent on snowpack and rainfall.
Huntington Desalination Plant
Southern California will move one step closer to the goal of assuring a drought-proof water supply for future generations with the 50 million gallon per day Huntington Beach Desalination Plant, now in late-stage development.
Water Conservation Initiatives
Forward-thinking, water-saving drought solutions
Turf-Replacement Initiative
Replace your turf grass and receive a rebate of up to $2,000! The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has a rebate program for removing turf and replacing it with landscapes that require little water at California single-family residences to support the State’s drought response.
SoCal Water$mart
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Family of Southern California Water Agencies’ SoCal Water$mart offers rebates for weather-based irrigation controllers (from $80 per controller for an acre or less; $25 per irrigation station for larger sites), rotating sprinkler nozzles (from $4 per nozzle), and synthetic turf (from 30 cents per sq. ft.).
20-Gallon Challenge
San Diego County Water Authority’s 20-Gallon Challenge offers free landscape surveys and has rebates for weather-based irrigation controllers (from $230), synthetic turf (50 cents per sq. ft.), and rotating nozzles (up to $4 each).
Colorado Springs Utilities
Colorado Springs Utilities offers rebates for up to $200 for rain shutoff devices, irrigation heads with check valves, weather-based irrigation controllers, and matched precipitation sprinkler nozzles (which water more evenly and slowly than regular ones).
Tempe Landscape Rebate Program
With the Landscape Rebate Program, get rebates for front-yard and backyard ($250 each) conversion of grass to desert landscaping or for new desert landscaping installation.