18380
18362
Title
Utility Insider News
Body
The Utility Insider offers news articles that are designed to engage the community with issues that are educational, informative, and relevant to water, sewer, and trash & recycling customers and consumers. The articles featured monthly are provided by the City's Clean Community, Utility Billing, and Water Resources Divisions.
Sections
The City’s Sustainable Lawn Replacement Rebate provides incentives to help offset the cost of replacing water-thirsty lawns with water-wise plants and efficient irrigation. Standard rebate is $2/square foot of lawn replaced or $5/square…
The Santa Barbara community gathers each year at Alameda Park for the Earth Day festival to honor its clean-air, clean‑water heritage—and to take actions that protect it. What is one simple yet powerful step you can take? Switch to…
Do you have a beautiful, water-wise front yard? The 2026 WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest celebrates stunning, water-efficient residential landscapes across Santa Barbara County. These gardens prove that conserving our most precious…
The City of Santa Barbara’s Sustainability & Resilience Department is launching “Own Your Impact”, a new community-wide campaign designed to inspire residents to take meaningful action to protect the place they call home.…
Sustainability News
Did you recently receive an unusually high water bill? Have you repaired irrigation or plumbing leaks in the past couple of months? If so, you may qualify for an adjustment to your water charges!Applications are now available online…
Our community depends on a network of underground water systems, and we’re spotlighting two of them: wastewater and stormwater. Wastewater travels through pipes to the El Estero Water Resource Center, where it’s treated and cleaned.…
Keeping your contact details up to date helps us serve you better!Have you recently changed your email address or phone number? It’s important that we have your latest information so we can reach you when it matters most, like if:There’s…
Surprises can be fun, but not when it comes to water leaks and property damage. WaterSmart is the City's customer portal that gives you 24/7 access to online tools to manage water use and pay bills.WaterSmart allows you to:
Are you tired of writing checks and making trips downtown or to the mailbox just to pay your utility bill? With our safe and secure online portal, you can pay your utility bill directly from your checking or savings account—anytime,…
Feel that chill in the air? So do your plants. During fall and winter, our gardens don’t need as much water due to rain, cooler temperatures, shorter days, and plant dormancy. To save water when it rains, simply turn off your timer until…
MarBorg Holiday Service DelaysDue to the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays, there will be a one-day delay in residential trash and recycling service following each holiday. If your regularly scheduled service day…
Sustainability News
Water leaks always seem to happen at the worst possible time—and the busy holiday season is no exception. Whether you're hosting festive gatherings, shopping for loved ones, or traveling out of town, a surprise leak can quickly turn into a…
Pouring fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the drain or garbage disposal creates pipe blockages over time (both on your property and under the streets). FOG buildup can clog an entire pipeline, causing sewer overflows that could result in…
The City of Santa Barbara’s Sustainability & Resilience Department is delighted to invite the community to join us for our third annual "Sustainable Holidays Open House" on Thursday, December 4, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at our office…
Sustainability News
As the holiday season approaches, many people find themselves juggling family gatherings, travel plans, and year-end responsibilities. Amid the seasonal hustle and bustle, remembering to pay bills on time can easily slip through the cracks…
Santa Barbara residents Fred and Janice Maggiore are the 2025 winners of the WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest, honored for their dedication to sustainable, handcrafted landscaping. The Maggiores gradually replaced their original lawn…
On June 1, 2025, the City of Santa Barbara transitioned to a new fee structure for all credit card and debit card payments. Customers paying their utility bills online, in-office, and by AutoPay (recurring payments) with a credit or debit…
Sewer backups are not only unpleasant but can result in costly damages. If your property has toilets, tubs, or sinks located below the elevation of your street, you might be required to install an approved backwater valve.
Instead of throwing away clothing, shoes, and other textiles, help keep them out of the landfill. The Sustainability & Resilience Department and MarBorg Industries remind you that clean, lightly used textiles can be dropped off for…
Sustainability News
Due to the Labor Day holiday, residential trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup will be delayed by one day.If your regular curbside pickup day is Monday, September 1, your carts will be collected on Tuesday, September 2, and subsequent…
Sustainability News