UPDATE, 12/7/09:
IT'S RAINING. TURN OFF SPRINKLERS. Cool season
watering procedures in effect, from Nov. 1 - March 31.
Outdoor watering is limited to ONLY ONE DAY PER WEEK. Choose Tues.
Thurs OR Sat. Report waste.
SUMMARY OF
WATER SHORTAGE PROCEDURES (PMC 13.10):
1.
Effective July 4, 2009, specific
instances of water waste arepermanently prohibited, whether or not a water
shortage exists. more...
2.
On July 13, 2009, a Level 1 Water Shortage
was
declared.Additional restrictions on water use apply
when a water shortage exists.
more...
3. Warnings and fines will be used to enforce
water waste prohibitions and water shortage restrictions.more...
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 to serve its
member agencies in Southern California. 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 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.
The
ongoing drought, curtailed importation of water and a 10% allocation
cutback from MWD have all put extreme strain on PWP's water supply. As a result,
the city council declared that a LEVEL 1 water shortage exists.
Two "Level1" restrictions on water use are now in effect, in
addition to the permanent prohibitions on water waste.
UPDATE,11/1/09:
Cool
season watering procedures are now in effect, from Nov. 1 -
March 31. WATER ONLY ONE DAY PER
WEEK. (Choose either Tuesday, Thursday
OR Saturday.)
Learn more...
Report waste...
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 and other
water use restrictions.
In the event that a water shortage is
declared by City Council, they will also declare which of
four "Water Shortage Levels" exists. The Level will indicate
which other water use restrictions will take effect in
addition to the permanent water waste prohibitions listed
above.
Update, 11/1/09:
A Level 1 Water Shortage is still in
effect, and watering is permitted only
one day per week from Nov. 1 through March 31.
(Choose one day: either Tues., Thurs. OR Saturday.) Read more...
Water Shortage
Level
1
(in effect)
2
3
4
Allowed
# of watering days per week*
Summer**
ONLY 3 DAYS -Tues, Thurs. &
Sat. ONLY _____
Winter**
ONLY 1 DAY -
Either Tues., Thurs. OR Sat.
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.
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.
