The Agricultural Water Management Program provides services and incentives for agricultural customers in the Water Authority service area. For more details on the programs listed below or to schedule a free on-site evaluation, call Mission Resource Conservation District at (760) 728-1332.
Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency Program
The AIEP offers opportunities to local farmers to improve on-farm irrigation system efficiencies.
Qualified participants must be a customer of a Water Authority member agency and irrigating one or more acres of agricultural property using municipal supplies. Participants begin with an on-site evaluation and receive a detailed report with current irrigation system efficiency levels and recommended improvements that integrate efficient irrigation technology components and irrigation scheduling practices.
Program participants who implement the recommended site improvements to achieve an estimated 0.2 increase in emission uniformity (EU) or distribution uniformity (DU) or greater are eligible for rebates*. The base rebate is $1000 per acre of land (up to the cost of equipment) for an estimated savings up to 1.12 acre-feet of water per year. Rebates may be prorated for site improvements projected to achieve greater water savings.
If you would like to schedule a site evaluation or have previously received a site evaluation and would like to confirm your eligibility for a rebate, contact Mission Resource Conservation District at (760) 728-1332.
*Additional program details:
- This program is currently scheduled to end in June 2025 or when funds are exhausted, whichever is sooner.
- Projects must be completed within the approved time period provided by the Resource Conservation District.
- Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 and through an agreement with the State Department of Water Resources.
Irrigation System Evaluations
These free on-site evaluations are available for agricultural properties with at least one acre of irrigated crops or trees. Emission uniformity and pressure readings are determined for each system and recommendations are provided along with crop data and technical information about the types of irrigation equipment in use. To schedule, contact Mission Resource Conservation District at (760) 728-1332.
Waterscape Rebate Program
The San Diego County Water Authority has partnered with the County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program to provide residents and businesses in unincorporated San Diego County with new and enhanced rebates.
With the Waterscape Rebate Program, property owners can receive financial incentives to:
- Replace high-water use turf with watersmart, native plants
- Install weather-based irrigation controllers
- Install a rain barrel, rain cistern, rain garden, or other rain-saving feature
- Install rain gutters
- Upgrade old driveways and parking lots with pavers or porous pavement
- Pump your septic tank and prevent costly repairs
- Transform large turf areas with water-wise landscaping (minimum of 10,000 sq. ft. of turf) (Commercial properties only)
- Install irrigation upgrades recommended by an expert during a free Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency evaluation (Agricultural properties only)
Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers
Weather-based irrigation controllers can reduce water use outdoors. Unlike standard timers that turn on sprinklers at set intervals, “smart” controllers use weather data and site information such as plant type and sprinkler system output to adjust watering times and frequency. Professional installation is recommended because proper set-up usually requires knowledge of soils, precipitation rates, slope and other landscape characteristics.
Incentives from SoCal WaterSmart start at $80 per controller for residential sites with less than one acre of landscaping. For larger residential sites, incentives start at $35 per station. Rebates cannot exceed the purchase price of the controllers.