The Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA)

The Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) represents the interests of 25 cities and water districts, and two private utilities, in Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties that purchase water on a wholesale basis from the San Francisco regional water system. The majority of the water used by the BAWSCA agencies is purchased from the San Francisco system (approximately 68%).

Due to the two consecutive winters of dismal Sierra snowpack and rainfall, BAWSCA is again joining with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) calling for voluntary reduction of water use by 10%. Last year the SFPUC and BAWSCA avoided mandatory rationing through the calls for voluntary reductions. The system will need these reductions again to avoid the mandatory rationing that is currently underway in some neighboring Bay Area communities. BAWSCA is calling for a continued commitment to conservation.

In addition to a wide variety of programs offered at the local level by the BAWSCA agencies, BAWSCA offers several regional water conservation programs:

Residential Washing Machine Rebate Program

BAWSCA agencies participate in the Bay Area regional washing machine rebate program with PG&E. For more information, visit www.waterenergysavings.com or call (800) 933-9555.

Commercial Washing Machine Rebate Program

This program offers business customers incentives to purchase high efficiency commercial clothes washers. For more information, visit https://www.conservationrebates.com/programs/cop/CoinOp.aspx or call (800) 831-6329.

School Education Program (Water-Wise School Education Kits)

This program offers a full water conservation curriculum designed for 5th grade school children. Through this program, 5th grade school children are taught about water conservation. Each student in the program receives a home water audit kit along with the instruction. Kits include water saving devices that are installed at home. Participating BAWSCA member agencies offer this program to their schools.

Large Landscape Audit Program

This program is utilized by the BAWSCA member agencies to track and improve water use efficiency on sites with high landscape water use. This is done in two key ways. First, monthly notices of site specific water use and potential for water savings are distributed to large users of water for irrigation. Second, on site landscape water audits are performed for customers with significant potential for saving water.

Landscape Education Classes

The BAWSCA landscape education class series is offered to residential customers in a variety of locations each spring. See www.bawsca.org for more details and handouts from prior classes.

Landscape Educational CD-ROM

The new BAWSCA Water Wise Gardening CD-Rom is now available. The CD is full of information on how to garden beautifully while saving water. The CD is available free of charge for residents in the BAWSCA service area. Please check your local water provider for a copy. Copies are also available from BAWSCA directly; please call 650-349-3000 or e-mail landscape@bawsca.org to request a copy. For a tour of the new CD please go to http://www.bawsca.org/res_outdoor.html.

High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program (starting summer 2008)

This program will offer rebates of up to $150 for the purchase of a qualifying high efficiency toilet that replaces an older model.

For more information about any of the BAWSCA water conservation programs, please visit www.bawsca.org or call (650) 349-3000.

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