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Welcome! The Coastside County Water District (CCWD) has developed this informative website to increase water awareness in the City of Half Moon Bay and the unincorporated communities of El Granada, Miramar, and Princeton-by-the-Sea.
CCWD has been implementing water use efficiency programs and practicing conservation techniques since the 1970’s when water rationing was implemented due to drought. In 1992, CCWD became a signatory to the California Urban Water Conservation Council, which implements Best Management Practices for urban water conservation. Since becoming a signatory, CCWD has increased its water use efficiency programs and outreach efforts to help its customers save water and money. Navigate the links below to search a variety of water conservation topics, programs, and helpful tips for using water more efficiently.
 Water Shortage Advisory
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W a t e r S h o r t a g e A d v i s o r y
The Third Year of California’s Drought
Three consecutive water years (2007-2008-2009) have been dry. During these dry years, Coastside County Water District has asked its customers to curtail their water use by 10%. These voluntary efforts along with careful water management have helped keep water storage at adequate levels to serve customers. Coastside County Water District depends on both the local watershed and on the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for drinking water supplies. Precipitation has been less than average these past three years, so we all need to continue to take action to conserve water.
Due to the water shortage and the collapse of the Delta’s ecosystem, Governor Schwarzenegger has requested that all Californians voluntarily curtail their water use by 20% immediately. Coastside County Water District encourages customers to meet the challenge of the Governor’s request. Start by trying to save 20 gallons a day for 20 days!
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California is facing severe water challenges. California's water shortages are due to several factors, including drought, measures to protect fish species, a growing population, climate change and increasing pressure on the state's water storage and delivery system. Even during periods of normal rainfall, the state will continue to see water shortages. To learn more about about how to meet Gov. Schwarzenegger's challenge to reduce individual water use by 20%, click on the Save Our Water logo or go to www.saveourH2o.org. |
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Practical Plumbing Handbook
 The Coastside County Water District now carries the Practical Plumbing Handbook for all its customers!
This handbook is an excellent resource on how to repair and perform preventative maintenance on the fixtures in your home.
The Practical Plumbing Handbook is FREE for all Coastside County Water District customers.
Water Facts and Figures
From 1999 Residential End Uses of Water-AWWA and the Handbook of Water Use and Conservation-Amy Vickers
With simple conservation measures such as replacing your 3.5 – 7 gallons per flush toilets with 1.6 gallons per flush toilets, you can save over 10 gallons of water per person per day!
Within Coastside County Water District’s service area, roughly 80% of water accounts are for single-family residents. So it’s up to the homeowners to do their part to use water wisely. It is also important to note that within a single-family residence, 50% of water use is outdoors. Please see the outdoor water conservation section for ideas on how to effectively use outdoor water.
Rebates
Residential Washing Machine Rebate Program (WMRP)
with PG&E |
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This program offers a combined water and energy rebate to customers who purchase qualifying efficient clothes washers.
Now you can get a water and energy rebate at the same time by filling out one convenient application form.
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| For rebate forms and information go to www.waterenergysavings.com |
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| Commercial and Residential High Efficiency Toilet Rebate |
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What are HETs? HETs are modern efficient toilets designed to use at least 20 percent less water than standard low flow toilets. Although they use less water, they perform well.
This program offers up to a $150 rebate for the purchase of a new high efficiency toilet (HET). HETs use 1.28 gallons per flush or less.
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| For information and rebate forms go to www.bawsca.org/res_indoor.html |
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Checking Your Home for Leaks
Leaks are expensive and cost money on your water bill, sewage bill and add cost to heating water. Follow these simple steps to check for a leak in your home:
- Start by locating your water meter and make a note of the meter reading
- Turn off all the water fixtures in and around your home and don’t use any water for about an hour.
- Then, go back and check the reading on your meter. If it has changed, you have a leak or leaks.
If you are still not sure if you have a leak or if you need help locating your water meter, please contact the CCWD at (650) 726-4405 and report your problem. A member of the field staff will schedule a FREE site visit to assist you.
CCWD also provides customers with dye tablets for determining leaks in toilets, which are the most common and water intensive leaks within a house. Please stop by the CCWD office to pick up FREE dye tablets or call to request that they be mailed to you.
FREE Landscape Classes
Learn how to beautify your garden and use water more efficiently in these Bay Area water-wise landscaping classes. All classes are FREE and offered on a first come first served basis. Click here to view the list of classes.
Gardening Literature
CCWD offers many reprints from popular gardening magazines such as Sunset Magazine and Bay Nature Magazine. Reprints include information on gardening basics, manual watering devices, maintaining your sprinkler system, and detailed information on water efficient plants, soil type and garden design.
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“Bay-Friendly Gardening – From your backyard to the Bay” contains information on soils, composting, mulch, pruning, integrated pest management, plants and garden design. Learn gardening practices that will help conserve water, save energy, reduce solid waste, reduce hazardous waste, and protect the local watershed. Create your ideal vegetable, flower, or low maintenance garden and contribute toward a healthy community. This booklet was created by StopWaste.Org and was reprinted by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA). This booklet is free to Coastside County Water District Customers. |
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“How to Water Your Garden” by Sunset Magazine includes information on proper drainage, using a soil probe, watering your garden efficiently, the importance of hydrozoning, and detailed information on irrigations systems (from drip to hand watering). |
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Water Wise Gardening for California”, also by Sunset Magazine, discusses climate zones according to the Sunset Western Garden Book as well as discusses specific water-conserving species of trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses. This reprint covers the importance of choosing the right type of grass for your home or area as well as how to manage thirsty plants such as roses, vegetables, and lawns. |
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“Soil Matters: From Backyard to Backcountry” is a new reprint by Bay Nature Magazine. This useful reprint discusses Bay Area soils types, including coastal soils here in Half Moon Bay, as well as real garden stories on how to turn hard unworkable soil into healthy and organic soil types. “Soil Matters” provides a list of soil friendly practices such as mulching and composting, as well as a list of useful resources. |
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“Gardening for Wildlife with Native Plants” by Bay Nature Magazine reviews gardens that utilize versatile native plants to create backyard habitats for local wildlife such as butterflies, hummingbirds, hawks, songbirds, herons, and egrets. A detailed look at oak gardens and native bees is also discussed in this reprint. |
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“Backyards from the Ground Up” is a new publication by Sunset Magazine that discusses four different types of gardens that can be used to fit the specific needs of homeowners. For example, this useful booklet illustrates examples of landscapes for couples without kids, a family with small children, a coastal inspired backyard escape and a landscape that allows for convenient entertaining. |
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“A Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Mulch” was developed by Stop Waste.Org. This guide helps promote healthy plants, minimize soil erosion, recycle waste, and conserve water. Learn how to save money, control weeds, and create healthy and attractive landscapes. This reprint is brought to you by BAWSCA the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency. |
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“Water-Wise Gardening in the Bay Area” CD-ROM is a gardening guide for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. This guide helps you select plants and design a garden by giving detailed descriptions and photos of plants. In addition, it gives irrigation tips and allows you to create your own list of plants. This CD-ROM is brought to you by BAWSCA the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency and Coastside County Water District |
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Need a comprehensive and resourceful plant book?
Check out East Bay Municipal Water District’s (EBMUD) new plant book, Plants and Landscapes for Summer and Dry Climates of the San Francisco Bay Region. This book contains beautiful color pictures and detailed descriptions (including climate zone and watering guidelines) for over 1,000 different plant species. For more information on this book, contact EBMUD at www.ebmud.com or visit a Bay Area bookstore.
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Water Conservation Tips
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Indoor
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Outdoor
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- Consider a re-circulating hot water system
- Install on-demand hot water dispenser
- Install low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators
- Water garden and lawn early in the morning rather than mid-day
- Fix leaky toilets and fixtures as soon as they are detected
- Take quick showers rather than full-tub baths
- Don’t let the water run when brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving
- Run your dishwasher only with full loads and only full loads whenever possible
- Stopper the sink when rinsing fruits and vegetables
- Install a high-efficiency clothes washer-can save up to 30% on water and 50% on energy
- When cleaning fish tanks, use the dirty water to water your houseplants – it’s rich in nitrogen and phosphorus!
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- When washing cars, use a trigger nozzle that automatically turns off
- Select correct water level for laundry loads
- Don’t water when it’s windy
- Sweep rather than hose off sidewalks,
patios, decks and driveways
- Position sprinklers so that they are not spraying the house, sidewalk or street
- Use drought-tolerant plants in the garden
- Use mulch around plantings to hold in moisture
- Consider using drip for trees and shrubs
- Know where your master water shut-off valve is located and show everyone in the household
- Cover swimming pools when not in use-an average sized pool can loose approx. 1,000 gallons of water per month when left uncovered
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For More Information...
 For more tips on how to use water more effectively and efficiently, visit the H20USE website at http://www.h2ouse.org/tour/. H20USE provides a virtual house and garden tour as well as offers hot links to great garden lists and detailed information.
 Coastside County Water District
766 Main Street
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-4405
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The Coastside County Water District now offers FREE high quality and water-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators for your home or business! 
