With the Level 1 Water Shortage now ended,
customers of Pasadena Water and Power are no longer restricted
on the number of days they may water outdoors. They are also now
allowed to fix plumbing and sprinkler links within seven days,
instead of three.
Thirteen instances of
water waste remain
permanently prohibited, with enforcement, in PWP's service
territory.
PWP encourages its customers continue using
water wisely and with respect for the long-term supply
challenges of our region. We recommend that customers water only
up to three days per week during warm weather, and no more than
one day per week in the cool season.
WE THANK ALL OF OUR
CUSTOMERS for two years of record
conservation during the water shortage.
KEY POINTS OF
PASADENA'S ORDINANCE ON WATER WASTE AND WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE
PLANS ORDINANCE (PMC 13.10):
1.Specific
instances of water waste are permanently prohibited, whether or not a water
shortage exists. more...
2.
Additional restrictions on water use apply
when a water shortage exists.
(Note: As of May 9, 2011, the City's two-year long Level 1 Water Shortage
has been declared over, and restrictions on watering days have
been lifted. )
more...
3. Warnings and fines will be used to enforce
the permanent prohibitions on water waste
and, in the event of a water shortage, additional restrictions
on water use. more...
(Click here to read or print the unabridged ordinance.)
BACKGROUND ON
THE LEVEL 1 WATER SHORTAGE of 2009-2011
Pasadena Water
and Power (PWP) relies on imported water from the
regional wholesaler the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California(MWD) to meet approximately 65% of the city’s
water needs. Due to persistent drought throughout the
western U.S. and a federal court ruling that restricts pumping
activities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, MWD
began to rely much more heavily on its
emergency storage reserves to serve its
member agencies in Southern California.
MWD subsequently cut back its allocation to
Pasadena by 10% on July 1, 2009. If our city exceeded its allocation
from MWD, we would have to pay for
that excess water at significantly higher penalty rates.
Adding to the strain on Pasadena's
supply, local precipitation had dropped for several years in a row,
resulting in depleted supply in our local groundwater basin and
reduced pumping rights.
For all of these reasons, in
July of 2009 the city council declared that a LEVEL 1 water shortage existed.
Restrictions on the number of days for outdoor watering and a
3-day timeframe for fixing leaks were enforced in addition to
the city's permanent prohibitions on water waste.
After two years of
favorable precipitation statewide and record water conservation,
MWD's reservoirs and local groundwater basin were replenished.
Pasadena City Council declared the Level 1 water shortage over
on May 9, 2011. The city's water waste prohibitions remain in
effect, whether or not a water shortage exists.
The following is a
summary of the key components in the Water Shortage Procedures
Ordinance.
Click here to read or print the unabridged ordinance.
1. The following instances of 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
patron's request;
Restaurants
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.
Water Shortage
Level
1
(NO LONGER in effect,
as of May 9, 2011)
2
3
4
Allowed
# of watering days per week*
Apr. 1 - Oct. 31
ONLY 3 DAYS MAX -Tues, Thurs. &
Sat. ONLY
_____
Nov. 1 - March 31
CHOOSE 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.
3. Warnings and fines will be used to enforce the 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.
