The Carlsbad Municipal Water District is currently at a stage one “drought alert” level, which calls for voluntary cutbacks in water use. To see which water district serves you, refer to this map. View a complete list of water rules.

Carlsbad is served by three water districts, and rules differ according to the needs of each district. All districts work together to coordinate wherever possible to make it easy for the public to know the rules.

The Carlsbad Municipal Water District is a subsidiary district of the City of Carlsbad, delivering water to about 85% of the city. The southern part of the city is served by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District and the eastern area is served by Vallecitos Water District. Find your water district.

Water planners forecast growth based on state and regional projections, including the amount of housing the city is required to provide. This information is included in long term water resource planning. These plans consider projected water savings from strict new conservation measures required of all new development, ongoing conservation efforts and the continued expansion of water recycling.

Recycled water can be used for landscape irrigation and certain industrial processes. Carlsbad recently doubled the capacity of its recycled water plant, which provides added water reliability for businesses.

Under the Carlsbad Municipal Water District’s rules, if a Drought Response Level 5 is declared, no new water meters would be approved, which would limit new building in the city.

The desalination provides about 17 percent of Carlsbad’s water supply, but conservation still needs to be a way of life in our dry climate. Our region is better prepared than most to withstand a prolonged drought because we have invested in many different water sources.

Water rates can go up when less water is used. This is because water rates are set according to the actual cost to provide water service, and some of these costs are fixed, meaning they are the same regardless of how much water is used.

The water district conducts “cost of service” studies to determine the cost to provide water service, and rates are set based on that. Other factors influencing water rates are infrastructure needs and the cost to buy imported water, which is the biggest expense in your water bill.

The Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board votes on any potential rate increases at public meetings. All customers will be notified by mail before rate hearings with meeting details and instructions for providing public comment.

The water district has the power to impose fines of up to $500 per day, but awareness and education are the first steps.

To report water waste in the CMWD service area, call 442-339-2722 or email water@carlsbadca.gov. Report any observed over-watering, sprinkler overspray or other violations with as much detail as possible, including street address and time of day.

Many parks, street medians and homeowners’ association landscaped areas are irrigated with recycled water, a drought proof supply that is not subject to current water use restrictions.

Did you receive a courtesy notice on your door? This is to make you aware of something a staff member witnessed on your property and provide conservation tips.

The City of Carlsbad is doing its part to help save our precious water resources. For example:

Parks

• Recycled water is used at half of all of the city’s community parks, including the five largest.
• The city uses dozens of “smart controllers” and water efficient irrigation systems and is continuing to upgrade its other irrigation controllers/systems.
• The city has seven artificial turf athletic fields and one artificial turf event area at its parks.

Fixtures

• About three-fourths of city facilities have low flow toilets. The city has plans to replace 44 more with low flow models and 106 with dual flush valves.
• Waterless urinals have been installed in restrooms where increased maintenance is not an issue. The city plans to replace 35 additional urinals with waterless models.
• Most city facilities have water saving faucets.

Landscaping

• The city has a water efficient landscape ordinance that establishes requirements for planning, design, installation and maintenance of water efficient landscapes in new construction.
• Drought tolerant plants are used routinely in new landscaping.
• Natural mulch is being used routinely in landscaped planters to retain moisture in the soil.
• Hundreds of broadcast spray irrigation heads have been replaced with more water efficient stream rotor spray irrigation heads.
• Designated decorative grass that is not irrigated with recycled water is being replaced with drought tolerant landscaping.

Recycled water

• Carlsbad currently has the third largest production of recycled water in the region and recently doubled the recycling plant’s capacity.
• The city has approximately 95 miles of recycled water distribution pipeline. This distribution system supplies more than 700 points of connection, including golf courses, hotels and manufacturing businesses.
• Recycled water is also supplied to many Carlsbad parks, facilities, median planters, shopping areas, freeway landscaping and common areas of homeowners’ associations.