Water Conservation
June 7, 2022 Update: The City of Burlingame has declared that a water shortage condition exists and adopted new water use restrictions from Level 1 and Level 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Visit our Water Use Restrictions to learn about these new regulations and Conservation Tips to learn how you can save water. | ||
Programs and Free Resources
Burlingame residents and property owners are eligible for a range of programs and rebates that support water conservation.Lawn Be Gone! Program
The “Lawn Be Gone!” rebate program is now available for Burlingame residents. By transforming your water-intensive lawn into a water-efficient landscape, you can receive a rebate of $2 per square foot, up to $500 per household. Rebates are available on a first come, first served basis. To get started, create an online account and apply online here.
Add a Rain Garden to your project and earn an additional $300 rebate! See rain garden examples here. Funded by the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program (SMCWPPP).

The City of Burlingame is partnering with Rachio to offer single-family residential customers a discount on the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller. This device helps you monitor and manage watering your lawn from anywhere with using a smartphone app. You can create tailored schedules, make automatic weather adjustments, and maintain a water-efficient yard. Rachio uses Weather Intelligence™ Plus to automatically adjust schedules to account for rain or wind, preventing water waste! By participating in this program, the device will cost $100 plus sales tax (the retail price starts at $229.99). Hurry, supplies are limited. To redeem the offer, visit bawsca.rachio.com and apply using the middle six digits of your water account number (ex: XX-123456-XXXXXXX).

Don't let good water go to waste! Capture rainwater to water your plants and save up to $200 off a qualifying barrel (limit 2 per single-family account or 4 per multifamily/commercial). For a complete list of rules and online application, please visit BAWSCA for details.

Learn how to garden beautifully while reducing your water use. For a list of available classes in San Mateo County, visit:
To see a video recording and/or presentation slides from past landscape classes, please visit our Landscape Classes webpage here.
Free Water Conservation Devices
Visit the Burlingame Public Library website to place a hold on the Check-It-Out Home Energy & Water Saving Toolkit. This toolkit provides free resources to perform a basic assessment of the efficiency of your home energy and water use. To check out what comes in the toolkit, visit San Mateo County Energy Watch.
Checklists, Factsheets, and Resources
- Residential Water Conservation Checklist
- Top 10 Tips for Conserving Water
- Water Resources Crossword Puzzle (access the answers here)
- Sheet Mulching Brochure
- Water Use it Wisely - 100+ Ways to Conserve
- Hire a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper
Report Water Waste and Help Conserve Water in Our Community
Call our Water Conservation Hotline at 650-558-7612,
Email us at WaterConservation@burlingame.org, or
Report it online at AccessBurlingame.
Report a Water Emergency
For emergencies, such as a broken water main or hydrant, please contact the Public Works Corporation Yard at 650-558-7670 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, call the Burlingame Police Department at 650-692-0604.