In January, the State Water Resources Control Board (State) announced temporary emergency drought regulations imposing requirements for water agencies to impose water conservation programs and prohibit certain types of water use. Despite early winter rainfall, this severe drought is not over, and a third consecutive dry year is emerging. In response, the State called for cities to ramp up efforts to conserve water through the issuance of Executive Order N-7-22, a resolution that was adopted on May 24, 2022. Under the order, cities are required to move to “Level 2” of their water shortage contingency plans to help yield up to 20% water statewide reduction.

Currently, the City is under Stage 1- Voluntary Conservation- Water Watch to reduce water use by up to 10 percent. The last time the City underwent a Stage 2 – Mandatory Conservation-Water Alert for statewide reduction in water use was in April 2015. Under this order, the State is requiring local jurisdictions to submit annual water supply and demand assessments. 

The mandatory water conservation measures imposed under the Stage 2 Water Alert include the following:

• Lawn watering and landscape irrigation, including construction meter irrigation, is permitted only on Tuesdays and Saturdays. All such irrigation is prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on any day, except by use of a hand-water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.

• Agricultural users and commercial nurseries are exempt from Stage 2 irrigation restrictions, but are required to curtail all non-essential water use. 

• Washing of autos, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other types of mobile equipment is permitted only on designated irrigation days between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following morning. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device, or a low -volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used.  Commercial car washes are exempt from these restrictions.

• Filling or refilling of swimming pools, spas, ponds, and artificial lakes is permitted only on designated irrigation days between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following morning.

• Watering of golf course, parks, schools, grounds, and recreational fields is permitted only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following morning.

• The use of water from fire hydrants is limited to firefighting, system testing, construction activities, or for other activities necessary to maintain the public health, safety, and welfare of the community. 

• Restaurants shall not serve water to their customers except when specifically requested. 

• The operation of any ornamental fountain or similar structure is prohibited. 

The State’s resolution also establishes a ban on the irrigation of non-functional turf for commercial, industrial and institutional sectors. Non-functional turf is defined as turf that is used solely for ornamental purposes. It excludes turf used for recreation or other community purposes (e.g. sports field, golf courses), water used at residences or water to maintain trees.

The City will be conducting public outreach for these new restrictions and provide more educational resources on water conservation via the water bill, City website and other social media forums. The City will continue to offer rebates funded offered by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The City has undertaken a new leak detection program last month to identify and repair leaks for City owned mains and service lines to minimize water losses within the water distribution system. 

Enforcement actions will involve the continued use of water waste letters informing the resident/business of specific corrective actions needed in order to stay in compliance with the City and state’s drought regulations. The City has been an active participant in the state’s water waste reporting website accessible to the general public. The City also accepts public reporting of water wasting through the City’s “Report an Issue” website application. The City responds to both reporting forums by mailing a water waste letter to the site address. City staff will continue to monitor drought conditions and demand reduction efforts.

There is no impact to the General Fund.

• Adopt the attached Resolution approving the declaration of Stage 2 Mandatory Conservation-Water Alert conservation level under the City’s Water Conservation Program Ordinance.

By: Samuel K. Kim, P.E. , Water Services Manager