Despite our recent heavy rains, the long-term drought is still very much with us, and today the California State Water Resources Board passed a new set of regulations for residential water use to curb waste and encourage conservation. The rules will be in effect for one year, and could carry fines up to $500 for the following “wasteful water uses”:
(A) The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes more than incidental runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures;
(B) The use of a hose that dispenses water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use;
(C) The use of potable water for washing sidewalks, driveways, buildings, structures, patios, parking lots, or other hard surfaced areas, except in cases where health and safety are at risk;
(D) The use of potable water for street cleaning or construction purposes, unless no other method can be used to protect the health and safety of the public;
(E) The use of potable water for decorative fountains or the filling or topping-off of decorative lakes or ponds, with exceptions for those decorative fountains, lakes, or ponds that use pumps to recirculate water and only require refilling to replace evaporative losses;
(F) The application of water to irrigate turf and ornamental landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall of at least one fourth of one inch of rain.
(G) The use of potable water for irrigation of turf on public street medians or publicly owned or maintained landscaped areas between the street and sidewalk.
According to the Sacramento Bee, “the water board said enforcement will be handled locally, not by the state itself” and “that it assumes most local governments will spend their time educating residents to help them follow the rules — and will use fines only for repeated or flagrant violations.”
