With the California drought reaching an emergency status, we must all do our part to conserve water.
Due to recent regulations requiring a 30% reduction in water use, all tenants are requested to reduce their landscape watering to be in line with water district restrictions. These restrictions are as follows:
1. Limits on Watering Times: Watering or irrigating of outside plants, lawn, landscape, and turf areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than 15 minutes of watering per station per day, with no watering between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use drip-type irrigation systems. This provision also does not apply to low precipitation sprinkler systems that apply water at or less than 1.0 inch per hour. This provision also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive action shut-off nozzle or device that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use, or for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. However no irrigation can occur regardless of method that results in runoff.
2. Limits on Watering Days: Watering or irrigating of lawns, landscape or other vegetated areas with potable water is limited to two days per week. Irrigation will be allowed on Monday and Thursday for odd numbered and numberless addresses and will be allowed on Tuesday and Friday for even numbered addresses.
3. The use of potable water for watering outside plants, lawn, landscape, and turf areas during and up to 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
4. The use of potable water for washing of vehicles, except at a commercial car washing facility that utilizes a recirculating water system to capture or reuse water. No use of potable water for washing aircraft, cars, buses, boats, trailers, or other commercial vehicles at any time, except at commercial or fleet vehicle or boat washing facilities operated at a fixed location where equipment using water is recirculated to avoid wasteful use.
5. Operation of commercial car washes that do not recycle the potable water used as required by the California Water Code Sections 10950-10953 is considered wasteful use of water.
6. The service of water, other than upon request, in eating and drinking establishments, including but not limited to restaurants, hotels, cafes, bars, or other public places where food or drink are served and/or purchased.
7. Operators of hotels and motels are to provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily and/or to require hotels and motels to prominently display a notice of this option in each guest bathroom using clear and easily understood language.
8. The use of potable water for washing buildings, structures, sidewalks, walkways, driveways, patios, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced, non-porous areas in a manner that results in runoff or a waste of water is considered wasteful use of water.
9. The use of potable water for watering streets with trucks or other vehicles, except for initial wash-down for construction purposes (if street sweeping is not feasible), or to protect the health and safety of the public or if recycled water is reasonably available as determined by a government agency, is considered wasteful use of water.
10. The use of potable water for construction purposes, including washing streets, backfill, and dust control, if other actions to accomplish the same purposes without water are feasible and/or permitted or if recycled water is reasonably available as determined by a government agency is considered wasteful use of water.
11. The failure to repair any leak, break, or other malfunction in a customer’s domestic or outdoor water system within 72 hours of notification by the utility, unless other, specific arrangements are made with and agreed to by the utility is considered wasteful use of water.
12. The use of potable water to refill residential swimming pools or outdoor spas more than one foot or initial filling with potable water except when existing pools are drained to repair leaks.
13. The use of potable water for filling or refilling decorative fountains, ornamental lakes or ponds except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life, provided that such animals are of significant value and have been actively managed within the water feature prior to declaration of a supply shortage level under Rule No. 14.1.
14. Other restrictions on use of potable water as prescribed from time to time by the SWRCB, the CPUC, SJWC, or other governing body or agency.
15. None of the restrictions apply to the use of recycled water. These restrictions also shall not apply (except for Stage 4) to commercial nurseries, golf courses, or other water-dependent businesses, unless specifically included by the SWRCB, the CPUC, SJWC, or other governing body or agency.
To view the latest info on the San Jose Water Company filing, please visit this link:
https://www.sjwater.com/news/topic/sjwc-files-mandatory-reduction-drought-surcharge-plan
