A water use budget is an estimation of the amount of water that should be used to water a site's landscape. This is calculated by using a site's landscape area and local weather information. The water use budget program focuses on landscape sites served by dedicated irrigation meters and offers participants a comparison of actual water use in relation to a water budget set by their water supplier. Water use budgets may be provided with two purposes in mind, and so the implementation will differ from one agency to another. These water use budgets are conducted either for informational purposes, or to integrate with an agency's billing or pricing system.

WaterWise will be responsible for the production and distribution of marketing and promotional material throughout an agency’s service area, if the water agency requests such services. Targeted customers would be notified of upcoming events and useful water conservation information. Promotional material may include bill inserts, mailers, newsletters, phone calls, letters, and advertisements in local newspapers. All marketing will identify the benefits for all parties involved.

The following is a list of the steps WaterWise will take in administering the water use budgeting program.

• Determine cost effectiveness
• Inventory dedicated irrigation meters for CII accounts
• Measure landscape area
• Calculate water use budgets
• Distribute water use budgets
• Monitor and tracking program data
• Report on program results