Madera County Municipal Code Ch. 13.55 Water Conservation

The board of supervisors of the County of Madera finds that conservation of water is a prudent and desirable goal necessary for the public health and safety. The board further finds that it is timely for the County of Madera to take those steps necessary for the public health and safety. The board further finds that it is timely for the County of Madera to take those steps necessary to ensure an adequate local supply of water, and that a water conservation program will assist in meeting that goal.

(Ord. No. 532B, 3-1-16; Ord. No. 667, § 1, 10-8-13; Ord. 532 § 1(part), 1990).

The following water conservation program within that portion of the unincorporated area of the county which is served by county service area or county maintenance district operated community water systems is adopted as follows:

A. No outdoor water use between eleven a.m. and seven p.m. on any day.

B. Dwellings or establishments with even number street addresses shall water only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

C. Dwellings or establishments with odd number street addresses shall water only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

D. No outdoor watering on Mondays.

E. Hosing down paved driveways, sidewalks, or paved parking lots is prohibited.

F. Restaurants and other food service establishments can only serve water to customers upon request.

G. No person shall allow water to run or waste from his or her property onto a county street to such an extent that water shall flow in the street gutter excessively beyond the frontage of the property occupied by such person; nor to flow excessively off of the occupied property into the street gutter; nor to continuously fall upon a public right-of-way or adjoining property such as to significantly contribute to the gutter flow; nor to excessively flow onto, or continuously fall upon, adjoining properties or an alley.

H. Using potable water to irrigate ornamental turf on public street medians is prohibited

I. Each consumer of water shall keep all connections, faucets, hydrants, pipes, outlets, and plumbing fixtures tight and free from leaking, dripping, or wasting water.

J. No person shall use water through any hose, pipe, or other discharge for the purpose of watering gardens, trees, lawns, flowers, or plants or for other irrigation or agricultural purposes without the use of a restricting nozzle or sprinkling device or unless such use is manually controlled and attended.

K. Using outdoor irrigation during and forty-eight hours following measurable precipitation is prohibited.

L. Using potable water to irrigate landscapes of new homes and buildings inconsistent with California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) and Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) requirements is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 532B, 3-1-16; Ord. No. 667, § 1, 10-8-13; Ord. 532 § 1(part), 1990).

If the county public works director determines that the water conservation measures set forth in Section 13.55.020 are inadequate or are likely to be inadequate to prevent water shortages from occurring in a particular county service area or maintenance district, the county public works director may take any or all of the following additional temporary measures to protect the health and safety of the persons within the service area or maintenance district:

A. Stage 1 Conditions. Defined as the currently existing conditions under the average water year, where there is continuous decrease of the water table due to weather conditions and overdraft pumping or the system is subject to further regulations mandated by the state. The following prohibitions are in effect during Stage 1:

1. All the water conservation provisions indicated in Section 13.55.020.

2. Violations of the water conservation provisions indicated in Section 13.55.020 shall be enforced as indicated in Section 13.55.040.

3. Water leaks must be repaired as soon as possible. Water leaks that adversely affect the water system may require the service to be shut off until the repair is made.

4. Using portable water in decorative water features that does not recirculate the water is prohibited.

5. Voluntary water conservation measures are requested.

6. Special districts staff will respond to and enforce violations of water conservation ordinance.

7. The board of supervisors hereby sets the penalties for violations at: Warning for first violation; fifty dollars for second violation; and one hundred dollars for third violation and each consecutive violation thereafter.

B. Stage 2 Conditions. Defined as potential moderate water shortage, where weather forecasts predict a long period of drought conditions accompanied by deteriorating ground water conditions or the system is subject to further regulations mandated by the state. The following prohibitions are in effect during Stage 2:

1. All the Stage 1 prohibitions, described above, which are not modified for Stage 2 conditions.

2. Outdoor water use limited to two days per week based on street addresses.

3. Even number street addresses shall water only on Wednesdays and Sundays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

4. Odd number street addresses shall water only on Tuesdays and Saturdays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

5. No outdoor watering allowed Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays.

6. The board of supervisors hereby sets the penalties at fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, and one hundred fifty dollars respectively.

Agency Actions:

7. Increased enforcement of the water conservation ordinance, hire additional extra help staff to increase enforcement of the water conservation ordinance.

8. Eliminate water use for fire hydrant flushing, other than absolutely necessary for maintenance.

9. Reduce outdoor water use and irrigation at selected county parks and facilities, which would not create hazards to users.

C. Stage 3 Conditions. Defined as serious water shortage where, in addition to prolonged drought conditions, ground water table has declined to the point where existing municipal wells may potentially break suction, or the system is subject to further regulations mandated by the State. The following prohibitions are in effect during Stage 3:

1. All the Stage 2 prohibitions, described above, which are not modified for Stage 3 conditions.

2. Outdoor water use limited to one day per week based on street addresses

3. Even number street addresses shall water only on Wednesdays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

4. Odd number street addresses shall water only on Saturdays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

5. Hot tubs and pools shall be filled only with water transported from outside the service area or maintenance district.

6. The board of supervisors hereby sets the penalties at seventy-five dollars, one hundred twenty-five dollars, and one hundred seventy-five dollars respectively.

7. Discontinue irrigation of outdoor areas at county parks and facilities.

D. Stage 3.5 Conditions. Defined as a very serious shortage, where customer demands and minimum water system pressures may not be met or the system is subject to further regulations mandated by the state. The following prohibitions are in effect during Stage 3.5:

1. All of the Stage 3 prohibitions described above, which are not modified for Stage 3.5 conditions.

2. Outdoor water use shall be prohibited except that irrigation of trees and bushes by means of drip irrigation is allowed two days per week. No watering of lawns/turf is allowed.

3. Even number street addresses may drip irrigate only on Wednesdays and Sundays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

4. Odd number street addresses may drip irrigate only on Tuesdays and Saturdays subject to the time restrictions set forth above.

5. No outdoor watering on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

6. Hot tubs and pools shall be filled only with water transported from outside the service area or maintenance district.

7. The board of supervisors herby sets the penalties at eighty-five dollars, one hundred thirty-five dollars, and one hundred eighty-five dollars respectively.

E. Stage 4 Conditions. Defined as a very serious shortage, where customer demands and minimum water system pressures cannot be met or the system is subject to further regulations mandated by the state. The following prohibitions are in effect during Stage 4:

1. All the Stage 3 prohibitions, described above, which are not modified for Stage 4 conditions.

2. Outdoor water use shall be prohibited.

3. Hot tubs and pools shall be filled only with water transported from outside the service area or maintenance district.

4. The board of supervisors hereby sets the penalties to ninety-five dollars, one hundred forty-five dollars, and one hundred ninety-five dollars respectively.

5. Discontinue irrigation of outdoor areas at county parks and facilities.

Board of supervisors may consider establishing water shortage committee comprised of the public works director, county administrative officer, board chairman, environmental health director, public health director, and sheriff.

(Ord. No. 532B, 3-1-16; Ord. No. 667C, § 1, 12-2-14; Ord. No. 667B, § 1, 8-26-14; Ord. No. 667A, § 1, 3-4-14; Ord. No. 667, § 1, 10-8-13; Ord. 532A § 1(part), 1995).

Any provisions of this chapter shall not apply to prohibit agricultural, commercial or industrial use of water.

(Ord. No. 532B, 3-1-16; Ord. No. 667, § 1, 10-8-13; Ord. 532 § 1(part), 1990).

Any person willfully violating any provisions of this chapter is guilty of a violation as hereinafter provided and subject to the penalties therefore as provided by law. In addition to the issuance of a citation for violation of this chapter, the following sanctions shall also apply: upon determination of a violation of this chapter, the county shall issue to the user or consumer a notice of violation and penalty as described in subsections 13.55.025(A)—(D) and direction to correct the condition and discontinue the prohibited practice. Every person who willfully violates any provision of this chapter, or who verbally abuses, threatens, harasses, or in any manner interferes with county code enforcement officers or any county employees investigating or enforcing the water regulations is guilty of a misdemeanor, any reference to infractions referred to therein being expressly declared inapplicable.

(Ord. No. 532B, 3-1-16; Ord. No. 667, § 1, 10-8-13; Ord. 532A § 1(part), 1995: Ord. 532 § 1(part), 1990).