Current Water Conditions

The year 2013 has started out unusually dry, with the January-February precipitation levels being the lowest since 1921! 

Precipitation levels can vary greatly within any given year.  Even though we may have periods of wet weather, a warm dry spell can affect water supplies later in the year.  State mandates require cities to reduce their water use 20% by the year 2020.  Read more information on Palo Alto’s long-term water supply forecast, water demand and conservation programs in the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan.

The City of Palo Alto Utilities partners with Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) to offer Palo Alto businesses a number of free services and rebates designed to assist in your water efficiency goals. To help you use water more efficiently, below are available indoor and outdoor water conservation rebates and programs.

For more information about water and energy savings, please contact your Account Representative or call CPAU Marketing Services at (650) 329-2241.

Business Rebates and Programs

New Construction/Green Building Program

For information on the green building program requirements, applications and rebates, click here.

Indoor Water Use Survey Program

Free indoor water surveys are available for commercial, industrial, school and institutional (CII) facilities.  Participants receive recommendations for improving efficiency, potential water and cost savings, as well as information about rebates and other free programs.  Surveys are scheduled subject to staff availability and on a first-come, first-served basis.

To schedule an Indoor Water Use Survey, contact the City of Palo Alto Utilities at (650) 329-2241.

Landscape Survey Program

Free landscape and irrigation surveys are available for businesses and schools with irrigated landscape.  The survey includes site-specific recommendations for improving irrigation system efficiency and analysis of potential water and cost savings.  It also qualifies sites to participate in the Landscape Rebate Program.  For additional information regarding the program, please visit here. 

To schedule a Landscape Survey, contact your Account Representative or the Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554.

Landscape Rebate Program

The Landscape Rebate Program provides rebates for improving outdoor water use efficiency by replacing irrigated turf grass and upgrading to efficient irrigation equipment.

Palo Alto businesses can receive a rebate of up to $1.50 per square foot of turf grass removed and replaced with approved low water using plants (at least 50% cover by approved plants) and/or permeable hardscape. Irrigation systems, if used within the converted area, must be low-volume drip, micro spray or bubbler. The maximum rebate amount for Palo Alto businesses is $30,000.

Additional rebates are available for installing dedicated irrigation meters, weather-based irrigation controllers, rain sensors, high-efficiency nozzles, rotary sprinklers or spray bodies with pressure regulation and/or check valves. Irrigation hardware rebate amounts vary based upon the project materials and cost. 

To qualify for the Landscape Rebate Program, sites must participate in a Landscape Survey and receive a written Notice to Proceed from the Santa Clara Valley Water District prior to beginning a project. To schedule a Landscape Survey, contact your Account Representative or call the Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554.

For additional information on the Landscape Rebate Program, please visit the website here

Remember to ALWAYS call before you dig!  Dial 811 for Underground Service Alert (USA) at least 48 hours before you or your excavator begins digging to ensure it is safe.  Click here for more gas utility safety information.

FREE High Efficiency Toilet (HET) and Urinal (HEU) Installation Program

Businesses, schools and apartment buildings with tank-type and flush-valve toilets that flush at 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf) or greater can receive free high efficiency toilets that flush at 1.28 gpf or less.  Facilities with urinals that flush at 1.0 gpf or greater can receive a free flush valve retrofit kit, which reduces the flush volume to 0.5 gpf.  Installation is included in this free service.

For information on this free direct install program, visit here

To schedule a free HET installation or urinal flush valve kit installation, call Southwest Environmental at (800) 307-5700.

High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate Program

Property managers and owners of laundromats or multi-family common laundry rooms can receive rebates for replacing older, top-loading clothes washers with approved high efficiency models.  Rebate amount is $400 for each clothes washer installed.

Additional information on this program is available here.

For more information and application materials, contact Karen Koppett from the Santa Clara Valley Water District at (408) 630-2707 or kkoppett@valleywater.org

Water Efficient Technologies (WET) Rebate Program 

Rebates are available for upgrading or replacing water-using equipment to improve the water use efficiency in various facility processes.  The WET rebate program offers rebates of up to $100,000 or 50% of the project costs, for each qualified water saving process or equipment change that reduces water use by at least 100 CCF per year.   It's easy to apply, and your water-saving project may qualify for additional funding through CPAU's energy-saving incentives in the Commercial Advantage Program (CAP).

For more information, contact your Utility Account Representative or the City's water conservation specialist at (650) 329-2417.

Water Submeter Rebate Program

Rebates are available for property managers and owners of mobile home parks and condominium complexes for changing from a master water meter to individual water submeters. The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) offers a rebate of up to $100 per installed water submeter.  Applicants must contact SCVWD for an application package prior to a project start.

Find out more about the Water Submeter Rebate Program here.

For more information and application materials, contact Karen Koppett from the Santa Clara Valley Water District at (408) 630-2707 or kkoppett@valleywater.org