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July 29, 2014
Mandatory Conservation Regulations Now in Effect;
Conference Call for Water Suppliers Set for July 30
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The state’s first-ever emergency regulations mandating urban water conservation became effective this morning following final approval by the Office of Administrative Law on July 28.
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The final regulations, adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board on July 15, prohibit certain outdoor water uses and require local water agencies to activate their water shortage contingency plans at a level that includes mandatory outdoor irrigation restrictions. The regulations will be in effect until April 25, 2015, unless they are extended or repealed.
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State Board staff will hold a conference call at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, to provide a brief overview of the regulations and an opportunity for water suppliers to ask questions regarding implementation.
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Details for the conference call are as follows:
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Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Time: 3-4 PM
Call in #: 800-857-9863
Passcode: 3052122
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In addition to requiring mandatory conservation, the regulations require local water agencies to report monthly water production data. They also prohibit Californians from using potable water to do any of the following:
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- Wash down sidewalks and driveways
- Water outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes excess runoff
- Wash a motor vehicle with a hose that does not have a shut-off nozzle
- Operate a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is part of a recirculating system
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The regulations make an exception for circumstances where the action is necessary to address an immediate health and safety need or to comply with a term or condition in a permit issued by a state or federal agency.
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If you haven’t already done so, please notify ACWA of any additional actions your agency takes to implement mandatory conservation / water use restrictions so we can reflect the changes on our interactive drought response map, which shows where mandatory and voluntary conservation measures are in place around the state. It is updated constantly and is being used by the Brown Administration, the media, state agencies and others to track what is happening at the local level in response to drought. Please email a description of your agency’s action to ACWA interim Communications and Outreach Specialist Marie Meade at mariem@acwa.com NO LATER THAN AUG. 29.
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*** It is especially important to let us know when your agency moves from voluntary (designated by a yellow dot on the map) to mandatory restrictions (designated by a red dot) so we can show compliance with the State Board’s direction.
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Questions
If you have any questions about the State Board’s emergency regulations, please contact ACWA Senior Regulatory Advocate Dave Bolland at daveb@acwa.com or 916-441-4545.
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