Water

Overview

The graph to the left shows the % reduction in water use since the 2013 baseline year. Through 2023, the College of San Mateo leads the District in reducing water use, while Cañada College lags far behind. 

Districtwide

District water consumption has risen to the 2013 baseline, as the District has returned to higher occupancies.

Cañada College

Cañada's annual water consumption has increased by over 5,000 CCF since 2013, a jump of over 25%.


Cañada's annual water consumption has consistently increased since 2016 with the installation of new pools on campus, and will likely remain at this level.

College of San Mateo

College of San Mateo's annual water consumption has decreased almost 8,000 CCF since 2013. 


Pre-pandemic, water consumption had already decreased significantly, with 2019 use being 11% less than 2013.

Skyline College

Skyline's annual water consumption has surpassed 2013 baseline levels, despite a drop in water consumption which was likely due to the pandemic. 


Pre-pandemic (2019), Skyline used 10% more water than it did in 2013.

Irrigation & Seasonal Variation

Districtwide and campus water use fluctuates drastically based on the season, largely due to the need for irrigation in the drier months of the year. In fact, irrigation is responsible for over 50% of SMCCCD's annual water use. 

Fortunately, there are many strategies to reduce water use attributed to irrigation (see right).

Strategies to Reduce Irrigation Water

1) Replace lush grass lawns with native, drought-resistant plants (or turf, for sports fields). Less irrigable land area results in less water use. 

2) Hydrogel injections help the soil retain water longer, thereby requiring less frequent irrigation. 


In the same year, monthly water use can increase as much as 9,000 CCF from the wet to dry season.

With the advent of global climate change resulting in warmer summer months, it will be increasingly important to increase and maintain drought resistant landscaping and other water-reduction initiatives across the District.