1. Beginning
July 4, 2009, specific forms of
conspicuous water waste will be permanently prohibited, whether or not a water
shortage exists. more...
2.
If a water shortage exists, the City Council will
declare one of four possible “Water Shortage Levels”
to indicate
which water shortage restrictions (number of days
for watering, how long to fix leaks, etc.) will take effect.
more...
3. Warnings and fines will be used to enforce
water waste prohibitions and water shortage restrictions.more...
Ongoing drought and a 10% allocation cutback from our wholesale
water supplier, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), effective
July 1, has put extreme strain on PWP's water supply. As a result,
the city council will conduct a public hearing on July 13 to
consider whether a LEVEL 1 water shortage
exists. (Read the Notice
of Public Hearing.) Check back here on that date to
find out what restrictions on water usage may take effect.
PWP urges everyone to adopt lifelong efficient
water use habits, for the good of the city and for the good of the
environment.
Pasadena Water
and Power (PWP) relies on imported water from the Metropolitan Water
District (MWD) to meet 65% of the city’s
water needs. Persistent drought throughout the
western U.S. and a federal court ruling that restricts pumping
activities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have caused MWD to
draw from its storage reserves. The water stored in
these reserves is designated
for emergencies only. Also, water levels in
Pasadena’s groundwater wells (35% of the city's
supply) are below historical norms.
On July 1, 2009, MWD will cut back its allocation to
Pasadena by 10%. If our city exceeds its allocation we will pay for
that excess water at significantly higher penalty rates.
No
watering outdoors between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., except with
a hand-held container or hose with a shut-off nozzle, or
for very short periods when adjusting a sprinkler
system;
No
watering during periods of rain;
No
excessive water flow or runoff onto pavement, gutters or
ditches from watering or irrigating landscapes or
vegetation of any kind;
No
washing down paved surfaces unless for safety or
sanitation, in which case a bucket, a hose with a
shut-off nozzle, a cleaning machine that recycles water
or a low-volume/high-pressure water broom must be used;
All
property owners must fix leaks, breaks or malfunctions
when they find them, or within seven days of receiving a
notice from PWP;
Fountains and water features must have a re-circulating
water system;
Vehicles must be washed with a hand-held bucket and/or
hose equipped with a water shut-off nozzle (does not
apply to commercial car washes);
Restaurants may not serve drinking water unless by
request and must use water-saving dish wash spray
valves;
No
installation of non-recirculating water systems at new
commercial car washes and laundry systems. Effective
July 1, 2010, all commercial car washes must have a
re-circulating water system or secure a city waiver.
Hotels
and motels must give guests the option to decline daily
bed linen and towel changes.
No
installation of “single pass cooling systems” in
buildings requesting new water service.
2. The
city’s “Water Shortage Level” will tell you how many days
per week you can water outdoors.
In the event that a water shortage is
declared by City Council, they will also declare which of
four "Water Shortage Levels" exists to indicate the water
shortage restrictions that will then immediately take
effect.
Water Shortage
Level
1
2
3
4
Allowed
# of watering days per week*
3 Summer**
1 Winter**
2 Summer
1 Winter
1 Summer
1 Winter
No Irrigation
Obligation to fix
leaks, breaks and malfunctions
72 hours
48 hours
36 hours
24 hours
Additional
restrictions
No filling ornamental lakes or ponds;
no washing vehicles
No filling ornamental lakes or ponds;
no washing vehicles
No filling ornamental lakes or ponds;
no washing vehicles; no fillings pools or spas; no
new potable water service
* PWP, at its sole discretion, may make
exceptions to these restrictions for extenuating
circumstances. See
Sections 8-11 in the amended Water Shortage Procedures
Ordinance.
** "Summer" is defined as Apr. 1 through Oct.
31. "Winter" is defined as Nov. 1 through March 31.
UPDATE, 6/30/09: The City Council
has set a public
hearing on July 13 to consider
which shortage level to declare. Regardless of
whichwater
shortage level may be declared, the permanent
water waste prohibitions listed above will remain in effect.
3. Warnings and fines will be used to enforce the Water
Shortage ordinance.
PWP will work closely with customers to provide helpful information and
issue written warnings for first offenses. However,
homeowners and small-business customers
with meter sizes smaller
than 1 ˝”who continue to
violate the ordinance will face fines of $100 - $500 for
future violations. Fine amounts are double for customers
with meters of 1 ˝” or larger.
Flow restrictors may also be used to achieve
compliance. A customer does have the right to a hearing if a
written request is received by PWP within ten (10) days of
the date of notification.
