Water & Stormwater Services

Water Conservation 

Water is a limited resource and is used for a variety of tasks in different sectors. The average American uses 400 gallons of water per day! The City of Emeryville is committed to sustainable water resources management and aims to reduce water use in the community by 30%. 

Check out the simple tips below to see how you can do your part to conserve water for a sustainable and healthy futures:

• Take 3 minute showers (or shorter!). The average showerhead uses 2.4 gallons of water per minute. According to the EPA, running the hot water faucet for 5 minutes uses about the same amount of energy as burning a 60-watt bulb for 14 hours straight. 
• Don't leave the faucet running! Turn off the water when brushing your teeth and leave it off until it's time to rinse when washing your hands or face. 
• Check for leaks! Fixing leaks saves water and saves you money!
• Collected used water. Save excess water in a barrel or pot and use it to water your houseplants or garden.
• Install water efficient fixtures. Invest in your showerheads, toilets, and faucets for bigger savings down the line. Visit your local hardware or appliance store and ask about water efficient appliances. 
• Mulch your lawn! Lawns require a large amount of water. Have a sheet mulch party and convert your lawn into a garden with drought tolerant plants and native flowers. Check out some of the links below for tips on how to get started.

Water Efficient & Bay Friendly Landscaping 

What is Bay Friendly (ReScape) Landscaping?

Bay-Friendly Landscaping is a whole systems approach to the design, construction and maintenance of the landscape to support the integrity of one of California’s most magnificent ecosystems, the San Francisco Bay watershed. The Bay-Friendly Landscaping program is now supported by ReScape California.

Bay Friendly Landscaping is designed to capture rainfall, prevent flooding, and prevent pollution. 

In 2019, City of Emeryville adopted a Green Infrastructure Plan to guide the identification, implementation, tracking, and reporting of green infrastructure projects in Emeryville. Check out the Alameda County Clean Water Program to view Emeryville's Green Streets and the Green Infrastructure Plan below.

Landscaping & Gardening Resources 

The Bay-Friendly Gardening Program is primarily for residential gardens. For additional information, view the guide linked below. The Bay-Friendly Landscaping Program is for commercial landscapes. For more information, view the guide and scorecard linked below.