How are we doing?
The Water indicator received a thumbs up rating, reflecting a decrease in residential water use in recent years. While San Diegans used more water per day in 2024 (76 gallons) compared to 2023 (73 gallons), this remains below the ten-year average (2015-2024) of 85 gallons–a promising sign that long-term conservation habits may be taking hold. Another encouraging trend is the ongoing success of the County of San Diego’s water barrel distribution and rebates program for residents living in the unincorporated county area. While individual conservation efforts play a vital role, the broader challenge of ensuring a diversified and sustainable water supply remains critical.
In 2024, 60% of the region’s water supply came from the Colorado River, a volatile water source which has been losing water flow over the past century. Efforts to diversify water sources– such as the Carlsbad desalination plant– have helped, but the costs of this infrastructure has downstream effects of increased water rates for residents. Developing fair and effective strategies to implement water conservation and diversification will strengthen the region’s resilience and ensure a reliable drinking water supply for the years to come.
Rating: Improving
Residential water use decreased significantly in the last decade
Residential water use
108
gallons per person per day
Average residential water use in 2005-2014
85
gallons per person per day
Average residential water use in 2015-2024
Residential water consumption inSan Diego County was 76 gallons per day per person in 2024 compared to 73 gallons per day per person in 2023. Zooming out, however, residential water use in 2024 was less than the ten-year average of 85 gallons per day per person of 2015-2024. In the decade prior, 2005-2014, residents used an average of 108 gallons a day each, a 21% reduction in water use between the two decades. This reflects a long-term shift in water consumption habits perhaps due to advocacy and awareness around the region’s susceptibility to droughts, the development of water-efficient appliances, and policies and programs encouraging rainwater collection.
According to the San Diego County Water Authority, residents reduced their water use by 50% between 1990 and 2023. This is a welcome development for a state that has dealt with severe drought and relies heavily on the Colorado River, a dwindling water source shared with six other states.
San Diego's water supply
What is an Acre Foot?
Water is often measured by an acre-foot, a volume of water that would cover an acre of land with a foot of water. It is considered that this amount of water would be enough to support two families of four individuals for a year.
Over 30 years ago, the region primarily depended on the Metropolitan Water District and local surface water. The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) has sought to decrease the region’s reliance on water from the Metropolitan Water District, which serves parts of the Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernandino, and Ventura counties. In 2024, only 9% of the San Diego region’s water supply came from the Metropolitan Water District.
This transition was facilitated by the addition of water sources like groundwater, recycled water, and seawater desalination. However, two-thirds of the region’s water supply still comes from the Colorado River. In 2024, 60% of the water came from sources leading ot the colorado River, which are the Metropolitan Water District, Imperial Irrigation District, and the All-American and Coachella Canals all originate from the Colorado River. SDCWA aims to diversify the region’s water source by adding potable reuse water as a source that can provide 18% of the region’s water supply by 2045. Diversifying our sources of water reduces our dependence on the Colorado River, pushing San Diego to be more resilient to water shortages and droughts.
The County of San Diego runs a rain barrel program for unincorporated communities to promote sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of its Climate Action Plan. Since its launch in 2015, over 14,125 rain barrels have been installed. Remarkably, the County surpassed its goal of installing 3,200 barrels in the program’s first year and has continued to expand every year. An inch of rain falling over a 1,000 square foot roof can collect 600 gallons of water, which can then be captured with rain barrels and used for watering gardens. Rebates on rain barrels and water collection systems have contributed to the program’s popularity.
A look at San Diego County reservoirs
San Diego County is home to 24 reservoirs that store local and imported supplies of water. These reservoirs have a combined capacity of around 721,000 acre-feet of storage. To compare, in 2024, residents needed 280,457 acre-feet of water. Click on a reservoir on the map to view more information.
San Diego 101: How We Get Our Water
Watch the Voice of San Diego's San Diego 101 video on how the region is working to keep up with the demand for water and buy its way out of potential water shortages. San Diego 101 is a series from Voice of San Diego made to educate San Diegans about some of the most important issues that shape our region.
Related Indicators
- Beach and Coastal Health
- Climate Change and Planning
- Employment and Income
Excess rain can flush pollution, sewage, and trash from our environment out to the sea. Runoff affects the water quality and health of San Diego’s beaches and coastline.
Visit the Beach and Coastal Health page
Why is water important?
High quality of life means the region boasts a thriving economy and a healthy environment accessible to all in the community.
Economy
Maintaining strong, safe water transportation infrastructure is key to maintaining long-term regional resilience. When water is limited, economic activity slows. High-income countries are projected to lose 8% in GDP if the role of water in the economy is neglected in economic planning. Research also suggests that decreased yields of crops due to climatic and irrigation issues can result in a loss of gross revenue and an increase in production costs.
In addition to the water that is used domestically, businesses and residents of the United States are reliant on water used outside of the country for goods like clothing, coffee, and food. According to an assessment by Fair Water Footprints, 48% of the water the U.S. relies on from abroad comes from unsustainable sources. Business-as-usual consumption can negatively impact the economy by depleting resources, exacerbating societal inequalities, and hindering long-term sustainability.
Environment
Water and the environment are intricately connected, as water is the basis of life. Having a high-quality water supply also depends on the quality of the ecosystem. Natural environments absorb rainfall, filter the water, and help replenish groundwater. Urbanized environments do not readily absorb water, so rainfall can come into contact with pollutants on the surface.The surrounding area is then prone to flooding, erosion, and exposure to contaminants.
Additionally, water use comes with costs in dollars, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Water-Energy Nexus study by the Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC) at the University of San Diego, cities that import water had a higher total energy intensity than cities that imported less water. Water conservation is inherently linked to reducing emissions.
Equity
The San Diego region faces frequent droughts and high water costs, making access to water an important matter for all residents. Residents will face hikes in water prices in the coming years, which can make water less affordable for low-income communities. Additionally, water-efficient appliances can be more expensive upfront. The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative developed a StoryMap to highlight case studies on projects and best practices in advancing equity around water use, stormwater, and water quality.
Regional Response
Policies
The California Department of Water Resources released an updated California Water Plan Update 2023, focusing on solutions that will make California’s water systems more resilient to climate change and more equitable.
Residents living in unincorporated San Diego and receiving water service from the San Diego County Water Authority are eligible for several water conservation rebates from the County of San Diego.
The City of San Diego projected that water rates will rise 61% through 2029.
Projects
Pure Water San Diego is the City of San Diego's phased, multi-year program that will provide one-third of San Diego's water supply locally by the end of 2035. This program will use proven water purification technology to clean recycled water to produce safe, high-quality drinking water. Updates on construction can be found on the City’s website.
Water News Network by San Diego County Water Authority is a news platform featuring water-related content and news from different outlets in San Diego, California, and the western United States, providing a centralized space for all things water.
The San Diego County Water Authority runs a Citizens Water Academy twice a year to engage a diverse network of leaders and professionals with their work. Alumni of this program gain a deeper understanding of water in the region.
Partnerships
In partnership with San Diego County Government, theSan Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center developed a Water Risk Map, which highlights areas of water pollution and watersheds throughout San Diego County to help determine where investments can be made to improve water quality.
Groundwork San Diego and San Diego Canyonlands established the Chollas Blue Green Collaborative, which is composed of residents, landowners, City planning agencies, regulators, developers, and industry leaders, tasked with developing a plan to address challenges the Chollas Creek watershed faces.
Project SWELL by San Diego Coastkeeper and Think Blue San Diego is an environmental education program that engages K-6 San Diego students with local water issues and climate science. Students take part in hands-on activities and create projects such as these water conservation projects.
What are we tracking?
We measure residential water use per capita, reservoir water levels, and water supply sources of San Diego County using data from the San Diego County Water Authority. In addition, we measure rain barrels distributed by the San Diego County Government.