Water use in Santa Rosa averages 13 million gallons per day (mgd) in the winter, while summer use escalates to as high as 33 mgd. This dramatic annual fluctuation, which is illustrated in the Average Daily Water Production graph, is driven by irrigation and some water-based cooling processes. Typically the months of June, July and August have the highest water use, and are considered the "peak months." 

Many components of the water distribution system must be designed to accommodate the highest flow months, including pumps, reservoirs and certain pipelines. By reducing the peak demand on the water system, Santa Rosa saves both the water resource and the distribution system capacity which is a resource too. The water conservation effort began to concentrate on peak reduction in 1998 with the approval of a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project, the "Water Peak Reduction" project. The project is funded annually and the specific project description is:

"This project will reduce peak water consumption on the City's water system by developing alternate sources of irrigation water supply for some large urban landscapes, parks and play-fields now served by the Santa Rosa Water Utility, and improve efficiency on systems which continue to be served by the City's main water supply. Incentives for irrigation system improvements will be supported by this project."

Specific incentives and measures funded by this program are detailed in the Residential Rebates and Business Rebates webpages on the Water Conservation website.