Local water district officials on June 13 adopted new permanent water use restrictions, as well as a process to enforce them even during non-drought periods.
The Valley Water board of directors unanimously approved a resolution “declaring that water conservation must be a way of life in Santa Clara County,” according to district staff. Additionally, the board approved an ordinance adopting permanent water waste prohibitions “to ensure that water as a precious resource is not misused.”
The new, permanent restrictions include only allowing the use of sprinklers from 9am-6pm; prohibiting runoff while watering outdoor landscape; prohibiting watering within 48 hours after measurable rainfall; and outlawing the use of leaking plumbing fixtures, sprinklers or irrigation systems without repairing them upon written notification by a retailer or Valley Water staff, says a press release from Valley Water.
The new restrictions also include the use of potable water for non-functional turf at commercial, industrial and institutional properties, including common areas of homeowner’s associations and multi-family residential properties; washing cars, except by handwashing, by a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or at a car washing facility; washing building exteriors or mobile homes with a hose that does not have an automatic shut-off nozzle attached; and washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, patios, parking lots or other hard-surfaced, non-porous ground areas except in cases where health and safety are at risk.
“Our residents and businesses showed a commitment to water conservation by saving more than 10 billion gallons of water during the drought emergency,” Valley Water Chair John L. Varela said. “Now, we are asking the community to work with us to make water conservation a way of life.”
The new ordinance is designed to allow Valley Water to quickly respond to droughts or other water emergencies. During periods when Valley Water’s Board has called for mandatory water use reduction, the ordinance provides an enforcement process that includes fines for those who violate outdoor water waste restrictions after repeated notifications, says the press release.
During wetter periods when Valley Water’s Board has not called for mandatory water use reduction, the ordinance’s enforcement process includes notifications and education for those who have violated water waste restrictions. It also refers repeated complaints to water retailers for further enforcement action.
Valley Water’s water waste inspectors respond to reports of water waste and violations of local water use restrictions. Reports of water waste in Santa Clara County can be reported through Valley Water’s website at access.valleywater.org, by email at Wa*******@va*********.org, or by calling 408.630.2000.
