Amador Water Agency Directors declared a “Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency” Thursday, July 24, 2014, which triggered water conservation measures required by the State Water Resources Control Board.
In discussion at the regular Board meeting, AWA Directors emphasized that the Water Agency’s focus will be on customer education and outreach, rather than enforcement.
Agency policy does not include fines for customers who waste water. $500 fines were widely included in media coverage of the state’s mandatory conservation declaration, but water agencies are not required to implement fines.
The following water conservation measures for outdoor water use are now in effect for all homes and businesses:
• Discontinue watering lawns and gardens between the hours of 9 am and 7 pm.
• Any run-off or street flooding from outdoor irrigation is prohibited. No unattended watering except where automatic shut-off equipment is used.
• An automatic shut-off nozzle or valve is required when washing cars and other vehicles.
• Washing sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking lots, tennis courts and other hard services with water is prohibited.
• Customers should use water conservation kits supplied by AWA or other water utilities.
• Emptying and refilling of swimming pools and hot tubs is prohibited. Maintaining pools, hot tubs and fire protection storage facilities at normal operating levels is permitted.
• Drinking water used in decorative fountains must be recirculated.
• Drinking water may not be used in scenic ponds and lakes except for the minimum amount needed to support aquatic life.
• Restaurants shall serve water to customers only upon request.
Additional conservation requirements are in effect for industrial, raw water and irrigation customers. AWA staff will be sharing the information with the cities and upcountry water suppliers that buy wholesale water from AWA and retail it to their communities.
Customers who fail to observe these mandatory water conservation measures will receive a written warning. Subsequent violations will result in a water restriction device placed on the customer’s meter for one week and a service call fee will be charged to the customer. Repeat violators could have their water supply restricted for
the duration of the drought or water emergency.
Following three critically dry years in California, the State Water Resources Control Board can take action against water agencies that don’t comply with the new regulations. Up to this point, AWA has encouraged voluntary water conservation by customers.
According to the State Water Resources Control Board, extreme drought now covers nearly 80 percent of the state and these conditions will likely continue into the foreseeable future. The state board estimates that its proposed restrictions could save enough water to supply more than 3.5 million people a year.
The full text of the Board resolution and conservation policy is available at www.amadorwater.org or by calling Amador Water Agency at 209-223-3018.
As of August 1, 2014, state law requires mandatory outdoor water conservation measures for all public water customers. On July 24, 2014, the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors approved the following emergency restrictions and enforcement, with the goal of reducing customer water use by 20 percent.
Residential Water Conservation Requirements:
• Discontinue watering lawns and gardens between the hours of 9 am and 7 pm.
• Any run-off or street flooding from outdoor irrigation is prohibited. No unattended watering except where automatic shut-off equipment is used.
• An automatic shut-off nozzle or valve is required when washing cars and other vehicles.
• Washing sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking lots, tennis courts and other hard services with water is prohibited.
• Customers should use water conservation kits supplied by AWA or other water utilities.
• Emptying and refilling of swimming pools and hot tubs is prohibited. Maintaining pools, hot tubs and fire protection storage facilities at normal operating levels is permitted.
• Drinking water used in decorative fountains must be recirculated.
• Drinking water may not be used in scenic ponds and lakes except for the minimum amount needed to support aquatic life.
• Applications for new service connections shall be granted only on condition that water shall be used for interior use and not for lawn or gardening watering or any other irrigation for the duration of the drought emergency.
Commercial Water Conservation Requirements:
All of the above restrictions apply, and:
• Restaurants shall serve water to customers only upon request.
Industrial Water Conservation Requirements:
Industrial customers must reduce water use to the lowest possible amount that will allow continued operation. Conservation measures and reductions in consumption will be established on an individual basis, if necessary.
Canal and Ditch Customers Conservation Requirements:
• All irrigation customers must reduce their consumption by 20 percent, and use irrigation practices that conserve water.
• All customers’ receiving tanks shall be float-controlled. Tanks and related facilities shall be in proper operating condition to eliminate leaks and water waste.
• New applications for irrigation service shall be denied unless the Water Agency determines an urgent need for water service.
Posted by TSPN TV on Wednesday, July 30, 2014
