Agricultural

Permanent Special Agricultural Water Rate (PSAWR) program Eligibility requirements are as follows;

To qualify for the PSAWR program after January 1, 2021, the property owner must be registered with one of the four following Growers Programs:

San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

County of San Diego

  • Grower's List
    • Certification to apply pesticides
    • To get an Operator Identification Number (OPID) to get on the Grower's List call 858-694-8980 and ask to speak with a pesticide inspector or email a pesticide inspector.
  • Active Certified Producers
    • A Certified Producer is a farmer who has been certified by the AWM to sell in Certified Farmers' Markets (CFMs)
    • Select - "Download a Certified Producer Application" link
    • Contact Number: 858-694-2739
  • Organic Producers
    • Grown locally - sold to wholesalers who sell to markets across U.S.
    • Portion sold to local restaurants and natural food stores
    • Also sell directly to public through produce stands, Certified Farmers' Markets throughout the county of SD and Community Supported Agriculture programs.
    • Select - "Organic Registration Information and Application" link
    • Contact Number: 858-694-2739

If you are unsure which Grower's List you qualify for, a good resource to contact is the San Diego County Farm Bureau at 760-745-3023.

The PSAWR program follows the guidelines provided by the San Diego County Water Authority. Agricultural production shall mean the growing or raising, in conformity with recognized practices of husbandry, for the purpose of commerce, trade or industry, of agricultural, horticultural or floricultural products produced for human consumption or the market.

Farmers and growers who participate in the new permanent program will receive a lower level of water service during a supply allocation from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) or other water supply shortages or emergencies. That allows the Water Authority to reallocate those supplies to municipal and commercial/industrial (M&I) customers who pay for full water service and reliability benefits. In exchange, participating farmers do not pay the supply rate differential between the Water Authority's melded water rate and Metropolitan's Tier 1 water rate, as well as being exempt from paying fixed water storage and supply reliability charges.


Backflow DeviceBackflow Device Information

A backflow device must be installed at the meter. Backflow device will need to be tested annually.

Review our Backflow web page for more information.

Qualifications for Residential Agricultural Water Program

The Residential Agricultural Water Program is for smaller groves on a residential property.

Property must be a minimum of.75 acres with one-half acre in production, not including residential landscaping.

A backflow device must be installed at the meter. Backflow device will need to be checked annually.

Proof of agricultural activity must be provided upon request. Proof can be in the form of sales or picking receipts, a copy of your Schedule F (Profit or Loss from Farming) of most recent tax return, or a donation receipt from a 501(C)3 Charity.

Note: The County Water Authority Agricultural program is developed by the San Diego County Water Authority and administered by the City of Escondido, Utilities Administration team. The Residential Agricultural program, offered by the City of Escondido to it's customers, is also administered through the Utilities Administration team. They can be reached at 760-839-4662.