East Palo Alto Municipal Code Art. II Implementation

On or after adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, all new water service connections provided by the water agency, including detector check meters on private fire protection services, shall be metered.

(Prior code § 6-7.201)

Water saving devices and information shall be made available by the water agency. However, the cost of any water saving device or devices shall be borne by the consumer requesting the device. The water agency shall also reasonably assist customers to detect leaks and increase the efficiency of applied water.

(Prior code § 6-7.202)

Unreasonable use of water is prohibited. Upon written notification to the user by the water agency, all unreasonable use of water shall be terminated and any required repairs to broken or defective plumbing, sprinkler, watering or irrigation devices shall be made within five calendar days or water service to the use may be terminated until corrective measures are taken.

(Prior code § 6-7.203)

Covers shall be required for all new swimming pools and hot tubs and encouraged to be installed for existing pools.

(Prior code § 6-7.204)

Except for fire protection service lines, a pressure reducing valve, or valves, that will limit the static water pressure to any internal water outlet of the structure to eighty (80) pounds per square inch gauge, shall be installed in all new residential structures or those existing residential structures requiring a plumbing permit for modification of, or addition to, the existing plumbing.

(Prior code § 6-7.205)

The following shall be installed in all new or remodeled residential, commercial or industrial structures:

A. Insulation of newly installed hot water pipes where such piping is located in attics, garages, crawl spaces or unheated spaces other than between floors or in interior walls, to provide a maximum heat loss of fifty (50) British Thermal Units per hour per linear foot for piping up to and including two inches in diameter, and one hundred (100) British Thermal Units per hour per linear foot for all sizes greater than two inches in diameter;

B. If newly installed or replaced, tank toilets utilizing not more than three and one-half gallons of water per flush action;

C. If newly installed or replaced, pressure reducing devices, or flow restrictors to limit the flow of water consistent with the intended use.

(Prior code § 6-7.206)

In new or remodeled commercial or industrial structures requiring a plumbing permit, a pressure reducing valve, or valves, to limit the static water pressure to eighty (80) pounds per square inch gauge to the upper floor of the structure, shall be installed only if no supplemental internal pumping is anticipated. The intent of this section is to limit available water pressure to the structure consistent with uses of water on the premises.

(Prior code § 6-7.207)

Any new or remodeled vehicle washing facility requiring a plumbing permit, which utilizes more than twenty-five (25) gallons of water per vehicle, shall have a waste wash water recycling system.

(Prior code § 6-7.208)

Two years from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, no use of water will be permitted where recirculation of the water is economically, technically and hygienically feasible in all new, commercial or industrial structures.

An "economically feasible recirculation installation" is defined as, over the useful life of the equipment to be installed, a system where the present worth of the cost of the water saved is more than the present worth of both the capital, and the annual operation and maintenance costs. Such economic and technical feasibility shall be prepared by the user with the determination of feasibility made by the city building official.

(Prior code § 6-7.209)

Landscaping shall be installed and maintained in accordance with Section 17.06.010 et seq. of the East Palo Alto Municipal Code, entitled "Water Conservation in Landscaping Ordinance."

(Ord. 152 §§ 1—5, 1993: Ord. 99, 1988: Ord. 91, 1988: prior code § 6-7.210)

(Ord. No. 393, § 4, 1-19-2016)

In determining the reasonable beneficial use of irrigation water for field agriculture, local custom should be considered, and perhaps modified, according to evapotranspiration rates for different crops, infiltration rates of applied water on different soil types and land areas with varying degrees of slope, and water application efficiency and the types of distribution systems available. The development and utilization, within legal constraints, of the following water saving techniques shall be encouraged with consideration given to the economics of the various agricultural enterprises. These concepts shall be encouraged by advisory and regulatory agencies as follows:

A. Field agriculture.

1. Utilization of an efficient irrigation system suited to the conditions with the scheduling of irrigation according to plant requirements;

2. Use of reclaimed wastewater to irrigate field grown flowers and ornamentals when water quality, environmental conditions, public health and economic considerations permit such use;

3. Adjustment of planting schedules and amounts to projected water supply;

4. Construction of on-farm reservoirs to collect winter runoff and increase water storage;

5. Collection and recycling of runoff water where possible;

6. Encouragement of cooperation between riparian and nonriparian users who share a stream water supply.

B. Greenhouse culture.

1. Utilization of an efficient irrigation system suited to the conditions;

2. Construction of reservoirs to catch runoff water from greenhouse roofs and adjoining areas;

3. Construction of catch basins with return pumping systems to collect and recycle drainage water from plants grown inside the greenhouse, if the quality is satisfactory;

4. Collection and use of rainfall and runoff from adjoining farm lands.

(Prior code § 6-7.211)

Notwithstanding the foregoing relating to conservation of water supplies, it is apparent that in times of a declared water shortage emergency pursuant to Section 350 et seq. of the Water Code of the state, certain additional mandatory water conservation practices will be necessary. It is the intent of this chapter that after allocation and setting aside the amount of water needed for domestic use, sanitation and fire protection, the emergency regulations shall establish priorities in the use of water for other purposes and shall provide for the allocation, distribution, and delivery of water for such other purposes, without discrimination between consumers using water for the same purpose or purposes. Regulations so adopted shall not penalize water users for past conservation practices.

(Prior code § 6-7.212)