Water Waste Prohibitions are in Effect

The Pasadena City Council recently amended the city’s Water Shortage Procedures Ordinance,  taking a much more aggressive approach to address our city’s water shortage.

Beginning this month, water waste will be permanently prohibited!

• 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

From now on, the city’s Water Shortage Level will tell you how many days per week you can water outdoors, how soon leaks must be repaired and whether washing vehicles or filling pools, ponds, fountains and other water features will be allowed. Each of these prohibitions will vary depending on which of four Water Shortage Levels the city council declares.

The city council will conduct a public hearing Monday, July 13, at 6:30 p.m. to determine which shortage level to declare. (Regardless of the level, the permanent water waste prohibitions listed above will remain in effect.)

PWP will work closely with customers to provide helpful information and issue written warnings if necessary. Homeowners and small-business customers who continue to violate the ordinance after they have received warnings will face fines of $100 to $500 for future violations. Fine amounts are double for commercial customers with 1½” meter connections or larger.

In the event the city council declares a water shortage, detailed notice about the amended Water Shortage Procedures Ordinance will be mailed to all customers. For more information visit www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater or call the Water Shortage Hotline at 744-8888.


 

Take Charge at No Charge

No one likes to get a fine and the city of Pasadena takes no pleasure in giving them. Pasadena is facing a very serious shortage that is making water – and especially water waste – very costly for everyone. We’ve reached the point where fines have become necessary to prevent any more waste of our dwindling supply.

PWP wants you to take charge so you don’t get charged, whether with a fine or a higher water bill. Visit www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater to find plenty of free tips, tools and workshops on how to cut waste and use less. Here’s a sample – no charge!

• If you have a sprinkler system, do a full inspection as soon as possible. Fix broken sprinkler heads and overspray right away, then reset your irrigation schedule to water only before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

• Attend one of PWP’s free workshops on efficient irrigation, water-smart gardening, California Friendly plants, or healthy trees and shrubs. Workshop dates are July 16 and 25, Aug. 13 and 22, Sept. 10, Oct. 3 and 22 and Nov. 5; you can reserve your space online at www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater or by calling 744-6970.

• Try the Online Watering Calculator to set a schedule that’s just right for your plants, or do it automatically with a Smart Irrigation Controller (and get a $160 rebate).

• Go on the H2Ouse Virtual Home Tour to learn how to save water and money in every room of your home.

• Take our Water Smart Survey to share your ideas for conserving and help PWP improve its conservation outreach. It’s anonymous; you’ll receive a voucher for a free Water Savers Kit that includes a shower timer and a quick shut-off showerhead.
 

Follow Up on a Bright Idea

You've got the roof and you've got the sunshine, but do you have the facts on how to go solar for less? Pasadena Solar Initiative experts do, and they’ll share them at the next Going Solar Workshop on Thursday, July 30, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle, 960 E. Walnut St.

Topics at the free workshop will include up front costs, tax breaks and rebates, as well as buying and leasing options. We'll walk you through the permit and rebate application process, teach you the right questions to ask when talking to vendors, and help you discover your potential energy and cost savings. Various solar panel and metering types will also be covered. Reserve your spot at www.cityofpasadena.net/solar.