Rancho California Water District’s (RCWD/District) Board of Directors voted recently to move into Stage Three—Water Warning—of the District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan. RCWD’s Stage Three shortage declaration was enacted due to the recent declaration of a water shortage and implementation of a Water Supply Allocation Plan by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which provides wholesale imported water supplies to RCWD through both Eastern Municipal Water District and Western Municipal Water Districts. Metropolitan’s move to supply allocations, effective July 1, comes in the wake of continued dry conditions, low water storage levels, and court-ordered cuts in deliveries from the environmentally sensitive Bay/Delta region in Northern California which have tightened water supplies. MWD has also increase rates for imported water significantly in part due to the cost of court ordered supply interruptions.
Adoption of Stage Three is a call for mandatory actions on the part of all customers to use water wisely in everyday activities. Stage three impacts customers that are currently using water inefficiently. Customers that go over their annual allocation will receive a pass-through penalty from MWD. Some restrictions on certain non-essential outdoor residential, commercial, and landscape water use will be implemented. Penalties for non-compliance of such restrictions will be imposed for repeat occurrences through the rate structure. The following mandatory measures will be imposed:
• Irrigate lawns and landscape only between 8:00pm and 7:00 am. Customers with weather-based irrigation controllers (WBIC) will be exempt from this requirement. It is not mandatory but is recommended to only water a maximum of every other day and to limit pop-up spraytype sprinklers to a maximum of 10-minute run time and impact and rotor sprinklers to a maximum of 20 minute run time. Do not allow water to leave the landscaped area.
• If new landscaping must be installed, only landscaping meeting the specifications of “California- Friendly” landscaping as defined by MWD will be allowed. Customers should plan new irrigation carefully. Newly installed plant materials may be unsustainable in higher stages of this water shortage contingency plan. Refrain from using decorative fountains unless they are equipped with a recycling system.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, sidewalks, and other hardscape surfaces.
• Do not allow hoses to run while washing vehicles. Use a bucket or a hose with automatic shutoff valve.
• Wash only full loads of laundry and/or dishes.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Shorten showers and turn off faucets while brushing teeth or shaving.