Environment: San Diego

The Port of San Diego recently completed an environmental project that will reduce the port district's water usage by thousands of gallons a year.

San Diego Completes Water-Wise Landscaping Project 

The Port of San Diego recently completed an environmental project that will reduce the port district's water usage by thousands of gallons a year.

It did so by replacing 48,300 square feet of existing turf with water-wise plants in the traffic medians along a major thoroughfare, Harbor Island Drive. The port also installed "Calsense controllers," which prevent over-watering by automatically shutting off when moisture levels in the soil are high. According to the port, these measures will reduce water usage by an estimated 2 million gallons per year.

The $309,900 project was paid for through the port's Environmental Fund. Established in 2006 by the Board of Port Commissioners, the fund has paid for a total of 64 environmental projects, of which 52 have been completed. The projects are aimed at improving the condition of San Diego Bay and surrounding port tidelands.

The project also qualified for and received a rebate from the City of San Diego's Water Conservation Program in the amount of $18,800.

Once it was completed in early November, the port's environmental staff instantly saw results, reporting that water consumption in the area has been reduced by approximately 58 percent or about $1,600 per month. The reduction in staff time to maintain the turf is approximately equivalent to $4,000 per year.

American Association of Port Authorities
Asociación Americana de Autoridades Portuarias
1201 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 860, Washington, D.C. 20024
E: info@aapa-ports.org
W: www.aapa-ports.org