How to Embrace WaterSmart Living
The “eGuide to a WaterSmart Lifestyle” covers a wide array of topics, including landscape design, water-efficient plants, outdoor rooms, finding and fixing leaks, healthy soil, smart buys on plumbing fixtures, landscape maintenance and drought survival for gardens. It offers everything from design ideas for creating themed planting zones to strategies for using “graywater” at homes and irrigating efficiently. Features will be added regularly to reflect innovations and other developments.
eGuide to a WaterSmart Lifestyle
WaterSmart Tips
Saving water is easier than you might think. A few simple changes can make a big difference – especially outdoors. More than half of residential water use is for landscape irrigation. Find out how you can Stay WaterSmart.
Water Use Surveys
A Water Use Survey is your opportunity to receive free site-specific water-saving recommendations. You’ll benefit from the perspective of our certified irrigation professionals. And you decide if and when to implement the suggestions.
Homeowner’s WaterSmart Guide
This full-color, magazine-style guide provides homeowners with a variety of tools and ideas for starting and maintaining low-water-use yards. It covers everything from plant selection and placement to budgeting for landscape retrofits.
Sustainable Landscaping Guide
Photos, diagrams and checklists for following sustainable landscaping principles including: climate-appropriate plants, high-efficiency irrigation equipment, rainwater capture and detention features, and soil amendments to improve water efficiency.
WaterSmart Gallery
The Water Authority has curated pictures of plants and garden designs that are well-suited to a Mediterranean climate. Explore beautiful, water-efficient landscapes for ideas for back yards, front yards, hillsides, patios, planters and other outdoor living areas.
More Landscaping Resources
Compost and Mulch
Fire Protection Landscaping
Garden Magazines, Tours, Shows and Classes
Irrigation
Landscape Design Templates
Planning and Budgeting
Professional Help
Rainwater Catchment
Soils, Trees, Planting and Plant Choices
Arboretum All-Stars
California Invasive Plant Council
California Native Plant Library
California Plants Database
Carbon Storage in Soil
Gardening With California Native Plants
How to Garden in a Drought
Master Gardener Association of San Diego County
Monrovia Nursery Plantfinder
Nifty 50 Plants for WaterSmart Landscapes
Plant Right
Select the Right Tree
Succulent Guide
USDA Plants Database
Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS)
WaterSmart Landscaping in San Diego County, Searchable Database