Los Alamitos Municipal Code Ch. 13.04 Water Conservation

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"City council"

means the city council of the city of Los Alamitos.

"Conservation offset"

means the implementation of proven conservation techniques which, when installed, will result in no additional demand on water supplies.

"Customer"

means any person, persons, association, corporation, or governmental agency supplied and/or billed for water service by Golden State Water.

"Excess runoff"

means water accumulation on streets, gutters, neighboring properties or other areas in an amount sufficient to cause flow.

"Graywater"

means untreated household wastewater which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Graywater includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and clothes washing machines.

"Potable water"

means water which is suitable for drinking.

"Recycled water"

means treated domestic water (effluent) from a wastewater treatment plant that is suitable for a direct beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur.

"Single pass cooling systems"

means equipment where water is circulated only once to cool equipment before being disposed.

"Water shortage"

means a determination by the city in consideration of the existing conditions of water production and/or an announcement by any state water agency, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, or any of its water suppliers.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

The provisions of this chapter apply to all water users, water users being those persons, customers and property served within the incorporated boundaries of the city.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

A. None of the restrictions outlined in this chapter shall apply to the following:

B. The routine and necessary use of water by a government entity in pursuit of its functions for protecting the public health, safety and welfare. This exception does not apply to landscape irrigation by a government agency.

C. The necessary use of water for the routine maintenance and/or repair of water distribution facilities, residential and commercial plumbing and existing landscape irrigation systems.

D. The prohibited uses set forth in this subsection do not apply to graywater. This provision shall not be construed to authorize the use of graywater if such use is otherwise prohibited by law.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

Water users are deemed to have under control at all times their water distribution systems and facilities and to know the manner and extent of their water use and excess run-off.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

A. The city shall periodically monitor the water supply and demand in the city by regular communication with its water supply sources. Upon notification from its water suppliers that a drought or other condition exists of sufficient magnitude and duration to reasonably cause conservation measures to be enforced, the city council by resolution may implement the conservation measures set forth in Sections 13.04.070, 13.04.080 and 13.04.090 and make such measures mandatory upon all water users in the city. In such event, the penalty provisions of Section 13.04.110 shall be imposed.

B. Implementation of the provisions of Section 13.04.070 as mandatory measures shall be accomplished as follows:

1. The city council shall, at a regular or special meeting, review the status of the supply of water in the city and upon its reasonable determination that a drought or other condition exists of sufficient magnitude and duration to cause mandatory enforcement, it shall declare the provisions of Section 13.04.070 mandatory. The determination shall be made by public announcement and shall be published three consecutive times in a newspaper of general circulation in the city.

2. The conservation measures shall become effective immediately after the council determination.

3. At such time as the city council determines there is a sufficient supply of water to meet the city's demands, it shall repeal its determination and such repeal shall be publicized in the same manner as the implementation.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

The following activities are hereby prohibited at all times:

A. Allowing irrigation water to run off into a gutter, ditch, drain, driveway, and sidewalk, street or onto pavement or other hard surface.

B. Outdoor irrigation of landscape for more than 15 minutes of watering per day, per station. The restriction does not apply to landscapes that utilize drip irrigation systems.

C. Watering between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily.

D. Automated irrigation of landscape during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Customers are encouraged to avoid the use of sprinklers on windy days. Irrigation by hand held hoses with automatic shutoff nozzles, drip irrigation or hand held buckets is permitted anytime.

E. Outdoor irrigation of landscape on rainy days.

F. Washing down hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to, sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, patios, and alleys, except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards.

G. Excess use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks, or other malfunctions in the plumbing system or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected.

H. Washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes and other types of mobile equipment unless done with a hand held bucket or hand held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses.

I. Restaurant serving water to their customers, except when specifically requested by the customers.

J. Operating a decorative water fountain or feature, built or installed after the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, that does not include re-circulated water.

K. Operating a commercial car wash or laundry, built or installed after the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, that does not use re-circulated water.

L. Operating a single pass cooling system built or installed after the adoption of said ordinance.

M. Not repair leaks within seven days of notice.

N. For hotels to provide daily linen service without offering a waiver option to guests.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

The following additional measure shall take effect upon a declaration by the city council that needed supplies are anticipated to be reduced approximately 10% or less. Upon this declaration, the following restrictions shall apply to all users of water.

A. Restaurants must use water conserving dish spray nozzles.

B. Ornamental lakes and ponds shall not be filled or refilled with potable water except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life.

C. Outdoor irrigation of landscape with potable water will only be allowed three days a week.

D. Fix leaks within 72 hours.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

In the event that city council determines that the measures outlined in Sections 13.04.060 and 13.04.070 do not produce a sufficient reduction in demand, or if the estimated needed supplies are reduced approximately 10% to 20%, then the following additional restrictions shall be implemented.

A. Outdoor irrigation of landscaping with potable water will only be allowed two days a week.

B. Fix leaks within 48 hours.

C. No filling of lakes/ponds.

D. Wash vehicles only at car wash system.

(Ord. 538 § 2, 1991; Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

In the event that city council determines that the measures outlined in Sections 13.04.070 and 13.04.080 do not produce a sufficient reduction in demand, or if the estimated needed supplies are reduced approximately 20% or more, then the following additional restrictions shall be implemented.

A. Potable water service will not be provided to new land development projects except under the following circumstances:

1. A valid building permit has been issued for the project, or

2. The project is necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare, or

3. The application provides evidence that the project will not include conservation offsets prior to provision of new water service.

(Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

A. Recycled water shall be used instead of potable water for landscape irrigation construction, dust control, and other approved uses to the extent feasible where recycled water is available to supply all or some of the water demand.

B. All restrictions resulting from any water shortage stage shall remain in effect with each successive and more severe water shortage stage until such time that the city council changes a particular restriction or declares that drought conditions no longer exist.

C. Additional restrictions may be implemented as determined by the city, after notice to users.

(Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)

A. The city manager, city building official, code enforcement officer or law enforcement officer shall give a first-time and second-time violator of this title a warning notice of the violation. Upon a third and subsequent violations, the violator shall receive a citation and fine.

B. The first and second warning notice shall specify the nature of the violation, the date on which they occurred and the corrective measures to be taken. Upon a third violation, the water user shall be charged with an infraction and shall upon conviction be subjected to the following fines:

1. Fifty dollars for the first conviction;

2. One hundred dollars for the second conviction;

3. Two hundred dollars for the third conviction.

(Ord. 09-05 § 3, 2009)