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1. What are the current water restrictions?

Stage 2 Water Restrictions as of November 15, 2021

The following water restrictions are required in order to maintain water supply to sustain public health and safety needs for the remainder of the year: 

• The following water restrictions are mandated to reduce water usage by a citywide 20%.
• Apply outdoor irrigation water only during the evening and early morning hours to reduce evaporation losses (8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.).
• For property with an even-numbered street address, irrigate outdoors only on even days of the month.
• For property with an odd-numbered street address, irrigate outdoors only on odd days of the month.
• Routinely inspect, and repair as required, all irrigation systems for leaks, and adjust spray heads to provide optimum coverage and eliminate avoidable over-spray and run-off.
• For irrigation valves controlling water applied to lawns, vary the minutes of run-time consistent with fluctuations in weather. Reduce minutes of run-time for each irrigation cycle if water begins to pool or run off to gutters and/or ditches before the irrigation cycle is completed.
• Utilize water conservation incentives, as available, to replace inefficient plumbing fixtures and appliances with water efficient models.
• Stop the washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots and other hard-surfaced areas by direct hosing, except as may be necessary to prevent or eliminate materials that present a danger to public health and safety.
• Correct and repair the escape of water through breaks or leaks within the customer’s plumbing or private distribution system. It shall be presumed that a period of 72 hours after the customer discovers such a break or leak, or receives notice from the City, is a reasonable time within which to correct such break or leak or, at a minimum, to stop the flow of water from such break or leak.
• Stop the noncommercial washing of privately owned motor vehicles, trailers or boats excepting when utilizing a bucket and hose equipped with an automatic shut-off.
• The City will not accept or approve building permits for new swimming pools unless the owner agrees to obtain pool water from a source other than the City’s potable water system.
• Refilling of a swimming pool except when topping off to prevent damage to pump and filter equipment is not allowed. Owners of pools should use a cover to minimize evaporation.
• Use of potable water for dust control, compaction, and other construction purposes. Only recycled water may be used for dust control, compaction, and other construction purposes as allowed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board or other governing bodies.
• Water use by a vehicle washing facility shall be limited to 80 percent of the water used by the facility from corresponding billing period in the prior year, unless such washing facility treats and recycles wash water, in which case this provision shall not apply.
• Water use for any nonresidential use shall be limited to 80 percent of the water used by the customer during the corresponding billing period in the prior year.

2. How can I conserve water?

In the Bathroom - Replace your old shower head with a good-quality, high-efficiency shower head. - Check for and repair leaks in your pipes, faucets and toilets. - Don’t use your toilet as a waste basket. Use a fill cycle regulator to decrease the fill of water into your bowl. In the Kitchen & Laundry - Only run your dishwasher and washing machines when they are full. - Instead of running the faucet to wait for cold water, fill a pitcher of water with drinking water and store it in your refrigerator. Outdoors - When washing your car, use soap and water from a bucket. - Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for the final rinse only. - Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway. - Landscape with plants that require low water consumption. - Water your lawn no more than every third day, and only during the cool time of the day in the morning or evening. - Adjust the sprinklers so only the lawn and plants are being watered, not your house, the sidewalk or the street. Free water conservation devices are available at City Hall (401 Grove Street)

3. What does the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance apply to?

- All new residential, commercial, office, industrial, public or quasi-public projects with landscaping
- All additions/remodels to existing residential, commercial, office, industrial, public or quasi-public projects with new or replaced contractor-installed landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more
- All additions/remodels to existing residential, commercial, office, industrial, public or quasi-public projects with new or replaced property owner-installed landscapes of 5,000 square feet or more

4. What water rebates are available?

- Low Flow Toilet Rebate
- Clothes Washer Rebate
- Lawn Conversion Rebate
- Irrigation System Audit
- Irrigation System Upgrade Rebate
- Greywater System Rebate