Drought Contingency Plan
Non-essential Water Uses
Water uses that are not essential or required for the protection of public health, safety and welfare, including:
- Irrigation of landscape areas, including parks, athletic fields and golf courses, except where otherwise provided under the Plan
- Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle
- Use of water to wash down any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surfaced areas
- Use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection
- Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street
- Use of water to fill, refill or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools or Jacuzzi-type pools
- Use of water in a fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes except where necessary to support aquatic life
- Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such a leak(s)
- Use of water from hydrants for construction purposes or any other purposes than fire fighting
Stage 1- MILD Water Shortage
Triggers
- Coastal Water Authority curtails production and delivery or distribution system compromised.
- Average Daily consumption reaches 75% of production capacity for three (3) days
- Weather conditions are considered in drought classifications
Requirement
- Customers asked to voluntarily conserve water and adhere to prescribed restrictions on certain use
Rescinding the order
- All triggering events have ceased for 3 consecutive days
Stage 1 Restrictions- VOLUNTARY
- Limit irrigation of landscape areas to between hours of midnight and 10A and 8P to midnight on your home's normally designated trash collection date.
- Water customers requested to practice water conservation and minimize or discontinue non-essential water use.
- All operations of the City shall adhere to Stage 2 restrictions
Goal
- Achieve 10% reduction in total daily water consumption
Stage 2- MODERATE Water Shortage
Triggers
- Coastal Water Authority curtails production and delivery or distribution system compromised.
- Average Daily consumption reaches 85% of production capacity for three (3) days.
- Weather conditions indicate that a mild drought will exist for several days.
Requirement
- Customers shall be required to comply with restrictions on non-essential water uses
Rescinding the order
- All triggering events have ceased for 3 consecutive days, the order is rescinded to Stage 1
Stage 2 Restrictions- MANDATORY (under threat of penalty)
- Irrigation with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation shall be restricted to between hours of midnight and 10A and 8P to midnight on your home's normally designated trash collection date.
- Irrigation by hand-held hose, faucet filled bucket or watering can 5 gallons or less or drip irrigation is permitted anytime.
- Washing vehicles, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane and other vehicles shall be prohibited except on designated water days (above) and shall be done with a hand-held bucket or hand-held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle or anytime at a commercial car wash or commercial service station.
- Use of water to fill, refill or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or Jacuzzi-type pools are prohibited except between hours of midnight and 10A or 8P to midnight
- Operation of ornamental fountains or ponds for aesthetics or scenic purposes is prohibited
- Use of water from fire hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting related activities or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety and welfare.
- The following non-essential uses of water are prohibited:
- Wash down of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surfaced area
- Wash down of buildings or structures (other than firefighting)
- Dust control
- Flushing gutters or permitting water to accumulate in gutters or street
- Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within reasonable time following notice directing repair
Goal
- Achieve 15% reduction in total daily water demand
Stage 3- SEVERE Water Shortage
Triggers
- Coastal Water Authority curtails production and delivery or distribution system compromised.
- Water consumption reaches 100% for 24 hours
- Average daily consumption will not enable storage levels to be maintained.
- Failure of water plant facilities or distribution system
- Water system is contaminated either accidently or intentionally
- Water system fails from “acts of God” or man- SEVERE condition is reached immediately
Requirement
- Customers shall be required to comply with additional restrictions on non-essential water uses
Rescinding the order
- All triggering events have ceased for 3 consecutive days, the order is rescinded to Stage 2
Stage 3 Restrictions- MANDATORY (under threat of penalty)
ALL requirements of Stage 2 stay in effect except:
- Irrigation by hose-end sprinklers is prohibited at all times.
- Irrigation by hand-held hose, faucet filled bucket or watering can 5 gallons or less or drip or automatic irrigation is restricted to between hours of midnight and 10A and 8P to midnight on your home's normally designated trash collection date.
- Washing vehicles, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane and other vehicles shall be prohibited except at commercial car wash or commercial service station between 6A-10A and 6P-10P.
- Filling, refilling, or adding water to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited
- Use of water for construction purposes under special permit is discontinued.
- All restaurants are prohibited from serving water to patrons except on request.
- No application for new, additional, expanded, or increased in size connections, lines etc shall be approved and time limits for approval are suspended.
Goal
- Achieve 25% reduction in total daily water demand
Stage 4 Restrictions- MANDATORY
ALL requirements of Stage 3 stay in effect except:
- Irrigation by automatic irrigation is prohibited at all times.
- Irrigation by hand-held hose, faucet filled bucket or watering can 5 gallons or less or drip irrigation is restricted to between hours of 6A and 10A and 8P to midnight on your home's normally designated trash collection date.
Goal
Achieve 35% reduction in total daily water demand