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Utility Insider News
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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.
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Skip the risks of sending paper checks through the mail with our secure, automated pay-by-phone system. Paying your City Water, Sewer, and/or Trash Bill by phone gives you a fast, safe alternative — without going online or the worry of…
City laboratory staff conduct more than 45,000 water quality tests each year to ensure safe drinking water for our community. As in past years, the City outperformed every state and federal public health standard for water quality. Read…
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
Writing paper checks can pose significant financial and security risks. Recent data shows that paper checks remain one of the most targeted payment methods for identity theft and fraud, driven heavily by mail theft and easy manipulation.…
Starting Friday, May 15, 2026, the Utility Billing public counter will be permanently closed every Friday. This update will help us streamline our operations and keep our public counter hours consistent, so there is no more guessing about…
There are a variety of products on the market that are advertised as a better cleaning experience when compared to traditional toilet paper. While wipes are marketed in a variety of ways, such as "septic-safe," "breaks down like toilet…
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…
Sign up to host a yard sale at your home during our second annual Community Yard Sale! On Saturday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event is a chance for residents to declutter, connect with neighbors, and give gently used…
Sustainability News
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.…
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…