San Marino Municipal Code Art. 03 Water Conservation

The City Council, upon recommendation of the City Manager, may declare stages of water conservation as provided herein.

A. Stage 1: Conservation Watch: During low rainfall but adequate water supply conditions, all residents, business persons and employees of the City are strongly encouraged to take part in a voluntary conservation program, including the following measures:

1. Avoid wasting water by flooding or creating runoff on sidewalks or gutters.

2. Avoid use of water for cleaning of sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking lots or other paved or hard surfaces.

3. Avoid using water through a hose for washing vehicles or recreational equipment without a positive automatic shutdown valve on the outlet end of the hose.

4. Avoid the unnecessary loss of pool and spa water due to evaporation when covers are not used.

5. Avoid waste of water through the disrepair of plumbing, sprinklers or irrigation systems.

6. Avoid watering of landscaping more often than once every three (3) days or overwatering or watering between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) A.M. and five o'clock (5:00) P.M., when evaporation results in excess waste of water.

7. Avoid serving water in restaurants unless specifically requested by a customer.

B. Stage 2: Drought Watch: During City Council-declared drought watch conditions, based upon the recommendation of the City Manager in consultation with the City's water purveyor, all residents, business owners and employees of the City shall:

1. Avoid wasting water by flooding or creating runoff on sidewalks.

2. Avoid using water for cleaning of sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking lots or other paved or hard surfaces.

3. Avoid using water through a hose for washing vehicles or recreational equipment without a shutdown valve on the outlet end of the hose.

4. Avoid the unnecessary loss of water from pools and spas due to the lack of a cover during the summer months.

5. Avoid the waste of water through disrepair of plumbing, sprinklers or irrigation systems.

6. Avoid watering of landscaping more often that once every three (3) days or overwatering or watering between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) A.M. and five o'clock (5:00) P.M., when evaporation results in excessive water waste.

7. City staff shall conduct an audit of its landscape irrigation systems to maximize efficiency, adjust sprinklers to avoid runoff and waste and check faucets, toilets and pipes, both indoors and outdoors, for leaks and repair them immediately.

8. Avoid serving water in restaurants unless specifically requested by a customer.

C. Stage 3: Drought Emergency: During City Council-declared drought emergency conditions, based upon recommendation of the City Manager in consultation with the City's water purveyor, the following shall apply:

1. All measures described in subsections B1 through B8 above shall be mandatory.

2. Every facility with a public restroom shall display "NOTICE OF DROUGHT CONDITION" information in conspicuous places upon premises, including every restroom. The information shall be conveyed by placard, menu message, decal or other form approved or provided by the City Manager.

3. Every building contractor shall refrain from the use of piped water for building or construction purposes, such as consolidation of backfill or dust control, without an approved written exception from the City Manager.

4. City staff shall conduct an audit of its landscape irrigation systems to maximize efficiency, adjust sprinklers to avoid runoff and waste and check faucets, toilets and pipes, both indoors and outdoors, for leaks and repair them immediately. (Ord. 986, 1-9-91)