Water Conservation

Water conservation is a cornerstone of our water management strategy and will continue to be so. Casitas Municipal Water District offers many water-saving programs to assist both residential and commercial customers. Please explore this page to learn more about our water-saving programs such as rebates, free water conservation devices, residential and commercial surveys, and the assistance we provide to our agricultural customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a leak?

Are you using more than 16 units of water (12,000 gallons) per month in the winter? If so, you probably have a leak unless there is some other obvious explanation for the high usage such as a large number of people living in the home. Does your toilet run in the middle of the night? Do you have dripping faucets? Try adding food dye to the toilet tank and wait a few minutes to see if the color goes into the bowl; if so, you have a leak. Don't forget to flush after the experiment, to avoid staining your toilet bowl. Check your pipes, are they wet?

How can I fix a leak if I find one?

Showerhead and faucet connections can be easily tightened or sealed with a wrench or with pipe tape. If you have a leaky toilet, try changing the flapper. Toilet flappers usually start to decay after five years and stop creating a tight seal in your toilet tank. In the yard, you can easily change a faulty sprinkler head by simply screwing it off and replacing it with the same brand tip with the same spray dimensions. A licensed plumber or gardener can always assist you with repairing your leaks when all else fails.

How can I save even more water?

If you need to replace a plumbing fixture or appliance replace it with a WaterSense labeled model. The WaterSense label can be found on toilets, faucets, and soon to be found on showerheads. These models will use 20% less water and are independently tested and certified to perform as well or better than standard plumbing fixtures. For more information on water saving tips please visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

What are the drought stages?

Why was Casitas' Water Efficiency and Allocation Program (WEAP) developed?

How does Casitas' Water Efficiency and Allocation Program (WEAP) work?

Each customer account is assigned an individual allocation based on reasonable use for their classification and property characteristics. For some customer classes, the allocation may be based on historical water use. This baseline allocation is known as the Stage 1 allocation. The WEAP currently contains five drought stages (Stages 1 through 5). As Lake Casitas levels decline, the allocations are reduced in accordance with each stage. Customers that use more than their assigned allocations are assessed a penalty charge (known as the Overuse or Conservation Penalty).

How is the current drought stage determined and does this affect my allocation?

The current drought stage is determined based on evaluation of water storage in Lake Casitas and local groundwater basins, current water use trends, and projected supply remaining. Each year, the Casitas Board of Directors evaluates conditions and determines the drought stage at the end of the rainy season (typically in April or May). Each successively higher drought stage reduces customer's allocations in order to reduce demands and preserve remaining water supplies.

Does the District currently have a target for customers to reduce water use?

As of June 1, 2023, a Stage 1 drought condition will be in place. As outlined in the WEAP, reduced water use within allocation amounts is encouraged but not mandatory for Stage 1. The Conservation Penalty for water usage exceeding allocations will be discontinued. While Stage 1 includes a voluntary reduction in water use, mandatory water use restrictions may be necessary in future years should climate conditions return to dry conditions that result in a decline in Lake Casitas water levels.

How can I learn more about my account's allocation and how to save water?

A member of the Casitas team can provide details regarding your account's allocation by calling a Customer Service Representative at (805) 649-2251. You may also ask to be referred to our Conservation Department.

Casitas urges all customers to continue to evaluate their water use and practice conservation. The District provides water surveys free of charge to all our customers. Please contact Justin Mortensen, Water Conservation Technician, at (805) 649-2251 extension 128 or jmortensen@casitaswater.com for more information.

What are the residential watering restrictions at Stage 1 beginning June 1, 2023?

In Stage 1 drought conditions, the water restrictions for residential customers are:

Hoses must be equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle when in use;
Irrigation with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for automatic systems for all residential customers;
Irrigation with potable water that causes runoff onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or parking structures is prohibited; and
Irrigation during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall is prohibited.

*For a complete list of water restrictions, click Water Waste Ordinance 22-01

Are all of the District's customers required to conserve including agricultural and resale customers like the City of Ventura?

How much rainfall do we need to fill Lake Casitas?

The long-term average annual rainfall for this area is approximately 21 inches. As of June 2021, the water available in Lake Casitas is approximately 86,000 acre-feet, which is about 36% of total capacity. The 50-inch rainfall years of 1995 and 1998 brought approximately 55,000 acre-feet into Lake Casitas storage. It would take at least two years like 1995 or 1998 to bring Lake Casitas to near full storage capacity.

When can we stop conserving?

Water conservation is a California way of life and will remain an important part of water management even when the current drought is over. On May 31, 2018, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 1668 and Senate Bill 606 which are designed to overhaul California's approach to water conservation. The State is currently developing water conservation regulations anticipated to take effect in 2023. Casitas is monitoring the regulations, and anticipates meeting or exceeding them given current conservation levels.

Why does Casitas provide water service to the City of Ventura?

Casitas is obligated to serve everyone within its boundaries. The citizens of the City of Ventura were instrumental in the vote that created Casitas and provided much of the economic base needed to fund the construction of Casitas Dam and its water systems. Those same citizens continue to provide funding of the ongoing operations of Casitas. The City of Ventura has a contract with Casitas that requires drought reductions that have led to a reduction of nearly 50% in the City's use of Lake Casitas.

How are water rates for the City of Ventura determined?

Casitas' water rates are determined in accordance with State Law and reflect the District's cost to serve a particular customer. A key element of Casitas' cost is whether or not additional pumping of water is required to provide service to a particular customer and the maintenance of the system that provides that service. Most parts of Casitas' system requires multiple pumping stations, pipelines, and tanks to provide service. Water delivery to the City of Ventura requires one pipeline, no additional pumping, no tanks and minimal electrical power and maintenance. This lower cost to serve is reflected in the resulting water rate that the City of Ventura is charged.

Water Saving Tips!

Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. So set the sprinklers for longer interval times or days in between watering. Saves 750 to 1,500 gallons a month. Also, make sure your sprinklers are not watering the sidewalks.
Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. Saves 20 gallons a day for every leak fixed.
Don't run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time. For a two-car family that's up to 1,200 gallons a month.
Install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors. Saves 500 to 800 gallons a month.
Watch your water use when brushing your teeth, doing dishes by hand, shaving to make sure you are not letting water run freely down the drain.
When washing your dishes or clothes only do full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons a month.
Slightly shorter showers. One to two-minutes less in the shower can save up to 700 gallons a month.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Saves 150 gallons or more each time. At once a week, that's more than 600 gallons a month.
Don't use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Saves 400 to 600 gallons a month.
Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.

For information regarding Lake Casitas volume, level and spilling, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Water Saving Tips!

Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. Saves 20 gallons a day for every leak fixed.

Don't run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time. For a two-car family that's up to 1,200 gallons a month.

Install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors. Saves 500 to 800 gallons a month.

Watch your water use when brushing your teeth, doing dishes by hand, shaving to make sure you are not letting water run freely down the drain.

When washing your dishes or clothes only do full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons a month.

Slightly shorter showers. One to two-minutes less in the shower can save up to 700 gallons a month.

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Saves 150 gallons or more each time. At once a week, that's more than 600 gallons a month.

Don't use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Saves 400 to 600 gallons a month.

Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.