Vallecitos’ water wholesaler, the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) has a Permanent Special Agricultural Water Rate (PSAWR) Program, which was developed with input from regional farming leaders. The PSAWR Program offers lower water rates to farmers in exchange for a lower level of water service.

Farmers and growers who participate in this program will receive a lower level of water service during water shortages or emergencies. That allows the CWA to reallocate those program supplies to municipal and commercial/industrial (M&I) customers who pay for full water service and reliability benefits. In exchange, participating farmers do not pay the supply rate differential between the CWA’s melded water rate and Metropolitan’s Tier 1 water rate, as well as being exempt from paying fixed water storage and supply reliability charges. 

To participate in the PSAWR Program, agricultural customers must grow or raise - for commercial purposes – products of an agricultural, horticultural, or floricultural nature.  Vallecitos will be required to verify eligibility by confirming customers are on one of the four lists described below.

1. San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) General Agricultural Orders Enrollment List - In 2016, the Regional Board adopted General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Commercial Agricultural Operations (or General Agricultural Orders). The Regional Board requires all owners or operators of Commercial Agricultural Operations that intend to make a profit in the San Diego region to comply with the General Agricultural Orders and enroll in the Regional Board’s program.
   
   
2. Grower’s List - The Grower’s List is an inventory of San Diego agricultural operators with a County of San Diego assigned operator identification number associated with pesticide use.
   
   
3. Active Certified Producers - A Certified Producer is a farmer who has been certified by the County of San Diego’s Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures (AWM) to sell in Certified Farmers Markets (CFMs). This means that AWM inspectors have visited their farm to verify their agricultural production. AWM issues a Certified Producer’s Certificate to the farmer, which lists the products they grow and may sell in a CFM.
   
   
4. Organic Producers - The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program defines “organic agriculture” as an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. This means that organic operations must maintain or enhance soil and water quality, while also conserving wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife. This list can be obtained from AWM.
   
   Additional information and links to verify eligibility
   
   Inclusion on one of the four lists above does not automatically guarantee enrollment in the PSAWR Program. The customer’s meter and account must be in compliance with all Vallecitos ordinances, resolutions, rules, and regulations. Customers wishing to participate in the PSAWR program must print a hard copy of the application and mail it to:
   
   Vallecitos Water District
   Attn: PSAWR Program
   201 Vallecitos de Oro
   San Marcos, CA 92069
   
   The PSAWR Program requires Vallecitos to provide monthly certifications to the Water Authority attesting to the total volume of PSAWR water delivered to program participants and to reasonably pass through the PSAWR cost benefit to program participants. The PSAWR program allows new participants to join as a way to strengthen the region’s multibillion-dollar agriculture industry. The program took effect on January 1, 2021, replacing the former program that ended December 31, 2020.
   
   For additional information on the PSAWR Program, please contact Chris Robbins at (760) 752-7120 or at crobbins@vwd.org.

• Water News Network article on 9/29/20
• Water News Network article on 05/25/21

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