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Water Use Restrictions
California is facing a water shortage caused by years of below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and the largest court-ordered water restrictions in state history. As a result, the San Diego County Water Authority reduced water deliveries to water agencies in the region by 8 percent. To increase water conservation, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District joined the San Diego County Water Authority and declared a Level 2 Drought Alert, implementing mandatory water cutbacks beginning July 1, 2009.
Drought Alert
Mandatory cutbacks
- Stop water waste from inefficient landscape irrigation. Repair all leaks within 72 hours of notification by the water district.
- Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to no more than three assigned days per week on the following schedule (does not apply to commercial growers or nurseries):
- Homes with odd-numbered addresses: Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday
- Homes with even-numbered addresses: Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday
- Apartments, condos and businesses: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Limit lawn watering and landscape irrigation to no more than 10 minutes a station, per assigned day (this does not apply to systems using water efficient devices, such as drip irrigation).
- Irrigate landscape before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only.
- Stop operating decorative fountains unless they use reclaimed water.
- No washing down of hard surfaces, such as driveways, patios, sidewalks and parking lots with a hose, unless necessary to remove safety or sanitation hazards.
- Wash vehicles with a bucket and hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle. Do not allow runoff to enter the street and storm drain.
- Serve water in restaurants only on request.
- Offer hotel guests the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.
Drought Watch
(Voluntary, 10 percent reduction in water use)
- Irrigate residential and commercial landscape before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only.
- Repair all water leaks within five days of notification by the water district.
- No washing down of hard surfaces, such as driveways, patios, sidewalks and parking lots with a hose, unless necessary to remove safety or sanitation hazards.
- Stop water waste from inefficient landscape irrigation, and repair any water leaks as soon as possible.
- Wash vehicles with a bucket and hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle. Do not allow runoff to enter the street and stormdrain.
- Serve water in restaurants only on request.
- Offer hotel guests the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.
Drought Critical
(Mandatory, up to 40 percent reduction in water use)
- Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to no more than two assigned days per week.
- Stop filling or re-filling ornamental lakes or ponds, except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life.
- Stop washing vehicles except at commercial carwashes that re-circulate water, or by high pressure/low volume wash systems.
- Stop water waste from inefficient landscape irrigation. Repair all leaks within 48 hours of notification by the water district.
- No new potable water service shall be provided and no new temporary or permanent meters will be installed, with certain exceptions included in the ordinance.
- No washing down of hard surfaces, such as driveways, patios, sidewalks and parking lots with a hose, unless necessary to remove safety or sanitation hazards.
- Serve water in restaurants only on request.
- Offer hotel guests the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.
- The City Council, sitting as the Water District Board, may establish mandatory limits on water use by homes and businesses. A penalty can be assessed for water use above the home's or business’s water allocation.
Drought Emergency
(Mandatory, more than 40 percent reduction in water use)
- Stop all landscape irrigation, except crops and landscape products of commercial growers and nurseries.
- Repair all water leaks within 24 hours of notification by the water district.
- The water district may install a flow restricting device at homes or businesses where the customer has repeatedly violated the provisions of the drought response ordinance.
- Tampering with or removing a flow restriction device may result in termination of service for a period determined by the water district.
- No washing down of hard surfaces, such as driveways, patios, sidewalks and parking lots with a hose, unless necessary to remove safety or sanitation hazards.
- Serve water in restaurants only on request.
- Offer hotel guests the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.
- Water-use limits may be established for residential and commercial customers, with penalties for water use in excess of the limits.
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