• Managers and owners of commercial or large residential properties can get help identifying leaks or other ways to improve their water efficiency through a free irrigation checkup program offered by the San Diego County Water Authority and Bureau of Reclamation.

    The free irrigation checkups are available now through June 1 to owners and managers of multifamily, commercial, industrial or public properties, or residential properties of one irrigated acre or more.

    The irrigation checkup starts with a site survey conducted by a landscape professional. After the survey, participants receive a report detailing observations and site-specific recommendations to improve water efficiency. Water savings of up to 20 percent often are possible after implementing the recommendations.

    Checkup applications are available at www.irrigationcheckup.org or by calling (866) 883-1332. City of San Diego property owners or managers should call (619) 570-1999, and those within the Helix Water District service area should call (619) 466-0585.

    Information on irrigation checkups for single-family homes with less than one irrigated acre is available at http://www.20gallonchallenge.com/programs_residential.html.

    Both programs are administered on behalf of the Water Authority by Mission Resource Conservation District, an independent agency that promotes responsible use of land, water and other natural resources.

    Water Sense Fix a Leak Week (www.epa.gov/WaterSense/index.html) is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. Fix a Leak Week asks Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems and fix running toilets, dripping faucets, broken irrigation pipes and other household leaks to reduce water waste. The Fix a Leak website provides a handy homeowners guide to finding and fixing leaks (www.epa.gov/WaterSense/water_efficiency/howto.html).