Water Quality & Conservation
Conserve Water at Home
Join the SCV Water Gardening Club, a new year-long series of free workshops designed to help you create beautiful, water-wise landscapes in the Santa Clarita Valley. Workshops are offered throughout the year in both in-person and virtual formats, covering topics like container gardening, native and edible plants, composting, lawn replacement, and wildfire-resilient landscaping. Family-friendly and bilingual classes are available.
Open to SCV Water customers. Space is limited; registration opens quarterly, and waitlists are available.
Highlights Include:
• Container Gardening & Native Plants
• Landscape Design (2-part series)
• Composting & Plant Selection
• Kids’ Bug Class
• Firewise Landscaping
• Lawn Removal (English & Spanish)
• Seasonal workshops & year-end celebration
For registration and full details, visit YourSCVWater.com.
Rain Barrel Purchase Program:
Rain barrels are an effective way to capture rain water to be stored and used for multiple uses including home gardening projects. It only takes 1/10 of an inch, over an average 1,000 square foot roof, to fill a barrel.
The City offers a rain barrel purchase program to residents twice per year, in the spring and fall. When pre-registration begins for each event, City of Santa Clarita residents can pre-order up to two (2) rain barrels per household, for the lifetime of the program, for $45.00 each plus tax. Informational classes are held the same day and are open to all, including those that do not pre-order a barrel and non-residents. Topics include the benefits of rainwater harvesting, best practices for installing a rain barrel and helpful water conservation tips.
Each rain barrel provided by Rain Barrels Intl., is made out of repurposed food-grade plastic, has a solid brass spigot that can be used to attach a garden hose to. The barrel is also topped with a four-inch mesh screen that prevents bugs from contaminating the water and comes in 50-62 gallon capacity, pending availability.
Pick up locations may vary for each event. Check our Events tab to find the latest rain barrel program date.
Ideas for watering more efficiently:
Use separate valves for lawn and plant areas and group plants with similar water needs on the same valve.- Avoid oddly shaped or narrow lawn areas (under 10 feet wide). These areas are difficult to water efficiently and often result in excess water runoff.
- Drip irrigation is ideal for plants because it can directly soak the soil without washing away soil or mulch.
- Install bubblers or emitters around the dripline of the plant. (The area under the outside of the plant canopy). Install enough emitters at the correct sizes to wet the root zone. At maturity, large trees may require 12 or more emitters. Small or newly planted trees may only need three – five emitters.
- When installing a drip system, don’t exceed 200 feet of poly tubing from valve to end cap. Don’t exceed a total flow of 200 gallons per hour per valve.
- Water early in the morning to reduce the rate of evaporation. Typically before 8am is best.
- Be sure to turn off sprinklers when it’s raining.
- Water plants less frequently but thoroughly to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
- Use a thick layer of mulch on plant beds to keep the soil cool, minimize evaporation, and prevent weed growth.
To help minimize water pollution:
Avoid applying fertilizers, pesticides, and weed-control chemicals right before it rains or on areas prone to runoff.- Put grass clippings, leaves, and landscaping debris in the green waste bin so it can be made into mulch.
- Plant native and drought tolerant vegetation that requires less water and care.
- Consider implementing a rain garden to help control run off.
WaterSense
WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, makes it easy for Americans to save water and protect the environment. Explore the WaterSense site to learn about water-efficient products, saving water, and how businesses and organizations can partner with WaterSense.
Resources for local and statewide conservation
There are programs for Santa Clarita water users that could help save water and money. To learn more about rebates, water conservation ideas or drought measures, click on the following links:
