What California Water Efficiency Partnership does

California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) membership organization that serves as the successor to the California Urban Water Conservation Council, founded in 2018 to consolidate urban water efficiency efforts across the state. The organization's mission is to maximize urban water efficiency and conservation throughout California by supporting innovative technologies, advancing research and training, encouraging effective public policies, and building collaborative partnerships with water agencies, service providers, and manufacturers. CalWEP serves a horizontal member base of more than 200 organizations, including retail and wholesale water utilities, municipalities, consultants, and product manufacturers.

CalWEP's core platform centers on the "Making Conservation a California Way of Life" regulatory framework, which provides water suppliers with standards, cut sheets, compliance tools, and implementation guides for SB 606, AB 1668, and AB 1572. Key products include the Smart Rebates Program (direct rebate administration on behalf of member utilities), the QWEL professional certification (recognized by U.S. EPA WaterSense with multi-year Sustained Excellence awards), MyCalWEP+ (smart water technology direct distribution pilots), and a member-only resource library spanning BMP guidebooks, CII classification tools, the LAM Explorer, the NAICS/Energy Star crosswalk, and a multilingual glossary. Supporting products include the annual Peer to Peer conference (10th anniversary in 2026), the Home Water Works calculator (with Alliance for Water Efficiency), the Jumpstart Water Shortage Toolkit, and various compliance and training resources.

CalWEP generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues, tiered by organization type and size, with caps of $40,000 for retail utilities and $15,000 for wholesale suppliers. Secondary revenue streams include Smart Rebates program administration fees, QWEL training and certification fees, conference sponsorships, and grants or co-funding from agencies such as BAWSCA, Valley Water, and the State Water Resources Control Board. Distribution is primarily direct-to-enterprise through member agency relationships, supplemented by self-serve downloads, webinars, and social channels. CalWEP is governed by a board of directors and operates with a small staff (1-10 employees), with no parent company, institutional ownership, or capital-raising activity evidenced.

Name

California Water Efficiency Partnership

Legal name

California Water Efficiency Partnership

Website

https://calwep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit membership organization that helps California water utilities, agencies, and related stakeholders comply with state urban water efficiency regulations through compliance tools, professional certification (QWEL), rebate administration, and an annual Peer to Peer conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Efficiency and Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Water-Smart Irrigation & Water Stewardship (Drip/Micro, Scheduling, Water Harvesting) (AFAGAMAD), Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative) (AFALAMAC)

Keywords

• Water efficiency programs
• Urban water conservation
• Water utility membership
• Landscape irrigation certification
• Regulatory compliance resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from water utilities (retail and wholesale), service providers, product manufacturers, government agencies, educational institutions, and other organizations. Pricing varies by organization type and size (connections, employees, revenue, etc.).
2. Smart Rebates Program: Rebate program administration services for member water agencies, handling application processing and payment distribution to end customers.
3. Training and Certification: QWEL certification training and continuing education units for landscape and irrigation professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) is a membership-based nonprofit that provides water suppliers, utilities, and related entities with regulatory compliance resources for California's urban water efficiency framework, professional certification programs (QWEL), rebate program administration (Smart Rebates), implementation guides, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. Its core deliverables are the Making Conservation a California Way of Life framework compliance resources, the QWEL certification, the Smart Rebates rebate administration service, and an extensive library of BMP guidebooks and compliance tools.

Product overview

California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) offers a comprehensive suite of programs, tools, and resources for urban water conservation throughout California. The core offering is the Making Conservation a Way of Life framework, which provides water suppliers with regulatory compliance tools, standards, and implementation guides. Key products include the Smart Rebates Program for processing water-efficient product rebates, the QWEL certification program for landscape professionals, and MyCalWEP+ member benefits for smart water technology. The organization provides extensive member resources including WUE Implementation Guides, BMP Guidebooks, landscape conversion tools, leak detection training, and various calculators and planning tools. CalWEP also hosts the annual Peer to Peer conference and maintains a multilingual glossary and compliance resource hub to support water suppliers in meeting California's water efficiency regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CalWEP Framework (Making Conservation a California Way of Life) A complete regulatory framework with standards, performance measures, compliance resources, and implementation tools designed to help California water suppliers meet urban water use efficiency requirements. Targeted at water utility compliance teams and program managers.
• Smart Rebates Program A statewide rebate administration service that processes water-efficient product rebates on behalf of member water agencies and disburses payments directly to customers. For member water agencies that want turnkey rebate program management and end customers seeking water-efficient product rebates.
• QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper) Certification Program A professional certification program for landscape and irrigation professionals providing training on sustainable landscaping and efficient irrigation principles, including controller programming and irrigation auditing. Recognized by U.S. EPA WaterSense as a Sustained Excellence award winner. For landscape professionals, irrigation specialists, and water conservation practitioners.
• MyCalWEP+ Member Benefit Program An add-on member benefit program providing exclusive programs, discounts, and direct distribution pilots for smart water technology such as smart irrigation controllers and whole home flow monitoring devices. For CalWEP members seeking curated smart water technology access.
• Peer to Peer Annual Conference An annual networking and knowledge-sharing conference for California water efficiency and conservation professionals featuring programming on regulation, best practices, and emerging topics. For water agency staff, consultants, manufacturers, and other water sector professionals.
• Residential Leak Detection & Repair Certification Training A training framework for plumbers and landscape professionals covering residential indoor and outdoor leak detection and repair, with a potential online directory of trained professionals. For plumbers, landscape professionals, and water utility program managers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7-39% reduction in water use after landscape transformation program participation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Smart Irrigation Controller ManufacturersminorOthers · 6 October 2020MyCalWEP+ program requests proposals from manufacturers to build statewide direct distribution programs covering smart irrigation controllers and whole home flow monitoring devices.
• Alliance for Water EfficiencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWE is a key partner providing the Conservation Tracking Tool and co-developing resources. CalWEP offers a bundle membership combining both organizations for $300. The Home Water Works Calculator was created by AWE in cooperation with The Field Museum with funding from The Home Depot Foundation.
• California Data Collaborative (CaDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication of the CII-DIM Guidebook and co-development of the Variance Estimator Tool. CalWEP and CaDC collaborate on research and tools for California's water efficiency framework compliance.
• San Diego County Water AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication of the 'A Practical Guide to Measuring Landscape Areas with Dedicated Irrigation Meters in CII Sectors' guidebook.
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLADWP staff provided guidance and effort creating the NAICS & Energy Star Portfolio Manager Crosswalk tool.
• Moulton Niguel Water DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff provided guidance and effort creating the NAICS & Energy Star Portfolio Manager Crosswalk tool.
• Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAWSCA provided funding for the Residential Leak Detection & Repair Certification Training research in 2022. BAWSCA is also a partner in the BayQWEL Training Program.
• Valley WatermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValley Water provided funding for the Residential Leak Detection & Repair Certification Training research in 2022.
• California Department of Water Resources (DWR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWR is the state agency that developed the water use efficiency regulations. CalWEP works in coordination with DWR on the Alternative Data Request Process guidance and broader framework implementation.
• California State Water Resources Control BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe State Water Board is the regulatory body for water use efficiency standards. CalWEP coordinates with them on framework compliance resources and the Alternative Data Process.
• G3: Green Gardens GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWrote and designed the 'California Watershed Approach to Landscape Design' publication, made possible with funding from CalWEP and other sponsors.
• Surfrider FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored the 2014 Landscape Symposium and provided funding for sustainable landscape publications.
• Water Efficiency TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funding for the 'California Watershed Approach to Landscape Design' publication.
• Association of Professional Landscape Designers California ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous sponsors of the 'California Watershed Approach to Landscape Design' publication.
• U.S. EPA WaterSensecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQWEL is recognized by U.S. EPA WaterSense for Irrigation System Auditing. QWEL is a multi-year WaterSense Sustained Excellence award winner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• US Water Alliance: National nonprofit advancing sustainable water policy and integrated water management; serves a similar utility-and-stakeholder membership model and overlaps on water equity and conservation programming relevant to CalWEP's members.
• Water Research Foundation: Utility-funded research organization advancing water science and efficiency; comparable to CalWEP as a sector-wide nonprofit serving water utilities with research, tools, and best-practice guidance.
• WaterNow Alliance: Nonprofit that supports local water utility leaders on sustainable water policy and integrated water management; serves a comparable utility membership base and works on California water issues similar to CalWEP's remit.
• WateReuse Association: National nonprofit advocating for water reuse and recycled water; overlaps with CalWEP on California water policy and serves a similar utility/agencies membership that intersects with CalWEP's conservation mandate.
• Alliance for Water Efficiency: National nonprofit focused on water efficiency and conservation with overlapping member base and joint product offerings; CalWEP offers a bundle membership combining the two organizations for $300, signaling deep operational alignment.

Emerging players

• Pacific Institute: California-based water research nonprofit producing influential reports on water scarcity and efficiency; comparable to CalWEP in California water expertise but focused on research and policy advocacy rather than utility compliance services.

Broad incumbents

• WaterSmart Software: For-profit vendor providing utility customer engagement and water efficiency software; complements but does not duplicate CalWEP's nonprofit coordination role, while competing for utility budget on adjacent digital tools.
• EPA WaterSense: Federal government program that recognizes CalWEP's QWEL certification; broader in scope but materially comparable as a water-efficiency authority and a key endorsement body for CalWEP's flagship certification program.

Others

• Surfrider Foundation: Environmental nonprofit that has co-sponsored CalWEP events and funded publications; comparable as an environmental advocacy organization but focused on coastal water quality rather than urban water efficiency.
• The Water Foundation: Philanthropy and grantmaking entity supporting sustainable water management initiatives; adjacent to CalWEP as a funder/ecosystem participant in California's water sector rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CalWEPorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CalWEP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-water-efficiency-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Water Efficiency Partnership