Flex Your Power Case Study: Otay Water District

Otay Water District designated a conservation coordinator in 1991 and has implemented several water conservation projects over the years including: school campaigns;
rebates and incentive programs; residential ultra-low-flow toilet (ULFT) replacement program; and conservation programs for commercial/industrial/institutional (CII) accounts, such as water use audits, with funding from San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District. The district also took the lead in building a Water Conservation Garden, a demonstration garden that teaches visitors how to effectively achieve water savings through Xeriscaping techniques.

In an effort to curb excessive water usage during the peak drought months of June through September 2001, Otay Water District implemented practical educational incentive programs and encouraged energy efficiency through a water conservation public awareness campaign. In the summer of 2001, the district mailed a water conservation brochure that highlighted water reduction, an energy-efficiency notification that showed the amount of energy needed to pump water to particular locations and bill inserts highlighting water conservation tips to all of its 38,000 consumers.

The goal of these projects was to promote water and energy conservation.

Otay recorded approximately 9 percent reduction in water energy transportation costs and an approximate 12 percent reduction in water use per capita in seven of the last eight years. Final financial impact is not available at this time.