South Pasadena Municipal Code Art. IV Water Conservation and Supply Shortage Plans

The purpose of this article is to establish a water conservation and supply shortage program that will reduce water consumption within the city of South Pasadena through conservation, enable effective water supply planning, assure reasonable and beneficial use of water, prevent waste of water, and maximize the efficient use of water within the city of South Pasadena to avoid and minimize the effect and hardship of water shortage to the greatest possible extent. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

The provisions of this chapter apply to any person in the use of any potable water provided by the department except for the following water uses:

(a) Water necessary for water system or fire suppression system testing and maintenance, or fire suppression and other similar emergency services affecting public health and safety;

(b) Water necessary to protect public health and safety as determined in the sole discretion of the department;

(c) Any use of recycled water;

(d) The use of water by commercial nurseries and commercial growers to sustain plants, trees, shrubs, crops or other vegetation intended for resale; and

(e) Hillside areas recovering from fire. To qualify for this exemption, a customer must obtain verification from the agency requiring erosion control measures. The duration of the exemption is limited to two years, or establishment of the vegetation, whichever is the lesser time period. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

The following water conservation requirements are effective at all times and are permanent. Violations of this section constitute waste and an unreasonable use of water.

(a) No Washing Hard or Paved Surfaces. Washing hard or paved surfaces, including, but not limited to, sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or alleys, is prohibited except as follows: (1) where necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards and then only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a water shut-off nozzle or device; or (2) when using a low-volume high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used, or a low-volume, high-pressure water broom.

(b) Runoff. Except as permitted under the preceding subsection, it shall be unlawful for any reason to allow water to run in such a manner so as to have water migrate onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch.

(c) Spray Irrigation Hours. Spray irrigation shall be scheduled between five p.m. and nine a.m. Operation of the spray irrigation system outside the normal watering window is allowed for testing and system maintenance and for thirty days following installation of new plants, trees or grass if necessary to prevent the plants, trees or grass from dying.

(d) No Spray Irrigation During Periods of Rain. Spray irrigation of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area during periods of rain is prohibited.

(e) Washing Vehicles. It shall be unlawful for anyone to wash any vehicle, trailer or boat by allowing any hose to run continuously. For the purpose of this section, continuously shall mean three minutes or more. Said hose shall be equipped with a position shutoff nozzle.

(f) Repair All Leaks. Loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected and in no event more than seven days of receiving notice from the department is prohibited.

(g) Serving Water in Restaurants. No restaurant or other public place where food is sold, served or offered for sale shall serve drinking water to any customer unless expressly requested by the customer.

(h) Restaurants Required to Use Water Conserving Dish Wash Spray Valves. Food preparation establishments, such as restaurants, cafÈs and cafeterias, are prohibited from using non-water conserving dish washing spray valves.

(i) Decorative Structures. No water shall be used to clean, fill or maintain levels in decorative fountains, ponds or other similar aesthetic structures unless the structure uses a recirculating water system.

(j) No Installation of Non-Recirculating Equipment in Commercial Car Wash and Laundry Systems. Installation of non-recirculating water systems is prohibited in new commercial conveyor car washes and new commercial laundry systems.

(k) No Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems. Installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

The department shall monitor and evaluate the projected supply and demand for water by its customers. In the event of a water shortage as determined below, the city manager or designee shall recommend that the city council make a determination that a water shortage exists and declare an appropriate stage be established to permit the department to prudently supply water to its customers. Prior to implementation of a water shortage stage as provided in this chapter, the city council shall hold a public hearing for the purposes of determining: (a) whether and to what extent a water shortage exists; and (b) which stage of water supply shortage is appropriate to address the water shortage. Notice of the time and place of said public hearing shall be published not less than ten days before the hearing on the city’s website and in a newspaper of general circulation within the city. The city council’s determination shall be made by public notice on the city’s website and in a newspaper of general circulation within the city and shall become effective immediately upon such publication. At any time during the water shortage period, the city council may discontinue any declared stage or may implement another stage in accordance with this chapter. Upon a finding by the city council that a water shortage no longer exists, any water shortage stage then in effect shall terminate.

A water shortage may be declared based upon, but not limited to, the following considerations: a call for extraordinary water conservation by a wholesale water provider to the city, planned or actual disruption to water system facility components for maintenance or construction, or planned or actual interruption to sources of the city’s water supply. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

(a) A Stage 1 water supply shortage exists when the city council determines, in its sole discretion, that due to drought or other water supply conditions a water supply shortage or threatened shortage exists and demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and appropriately respond to existing water conditions. Upon the declaration by the city council of a Stage 1 moderate water supply shortage, the department shall implement the mandatory Stage 1 conservation measures identified in this section.

(b) Stage 1 Water Conservation Measures. The following water conservation requirements apply during a declared Stage 1 water supply shortage:

(1) Limits on Watering Days. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area is limited to three designated days per week. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use low flow drip type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour. This subsection also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container; watering for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system; or for maintenance of vegetation, including vegetable gardens, fruit trees and shrubs, intended for consumption.

(2) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions. All leaks, breaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system shall be repaired within seventy-two hours of notification by the department unless other arrangements are made with the department.

(3) Stage 1 includes a recommended ten percent water reduction for all customers. The ten percent reduction shall be calculated on an annual consumption basis. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

(a) A Stage 2 water supply shortage exists when the city council determines, in its sole discretion, that due to drought or other water supply conditions a water supply shortage or threatened shortage exists and demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and appropriately respond to existing water conditions. Upon the declaration by the city council of a Stage 2 water supply shortage, the department shall implement the mandatory Stage 2 conservation measures identified in this section.

(b) Stage 2 Water Conservation Measures. The following water conservation requirements apply during a declared Stage 2 water supply shortage:

(1) Limits on Watering Days. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with water is limited to two designated days per week. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use low flow drip type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour. This subsection also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container; watering for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system; or for maintenance of vegetation, including fruit trees and shrubs, intended for consumption.

(2) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions. All leaks, breaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system shall be repaired within forty-eight hours of notification by the department unless other arrangements are made with the department.

(3) Limits on Filling Ornamental Lakes or Ponds. Filling or re-filling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited, except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life.

(4) Stage 2 includes a recommended twenty percent water reduction for all customers. The twenty percent reduction shall be calculated on an annual consumption basis. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

(a) A Stage 3 water supply shortage exists when the city council determines, in its sole discretion, that due to drought or other water supply conditions, a water supply shortage or threatened shortage exists and demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and appropriately respond to existing water conditions. Upon the declaration by the city council of a Stage 3 water supply shortage, the department shall implement the mandatory Stage 3 conservation measures identified in this section.

(b) Stage 3 Water Conservation Measures. The following water conservation requirements apply during a declared Stage 3 water supply shortage:

(1) Limits on Watering Days. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area is limited to one designated day per week. This subsection does not apply to the following categories of use, as determined by the department in its sole discretion:

(A) Landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use low flow drip type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour.

• (B) Watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container.

• (C) Watering for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.

• (D) Maintenance of vegetation, including fruit trees and shrubs, intended for consumption.

• (E) Maintenance of existing landscape necessary for fire protection.

• (F) Maintenance of existing landscape for soil erosion control.

• (G) Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the well-being of protected species.

(H) Maintenance of landscape within active public parks and playing fields, school grounds, golf course greens, cemeteries and day care centers, provided that such irrigation does not exceed two days per week, according to a schedule established and posted by the department.

(I) Actively irrigated habitat restoration or environmental mitigation projects.

(2) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions. All leaks, breaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system shall be repaired within thirty-six hours of notification by the department, unless other arrangements are made with the department.

(3) Limits on Filling Ornamental Lakes or Ponds. Filling or re-filling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited, except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life.

(4) Stage 3 includes a recommended thirty percent water reduction for all customers. The thirty percent reduction shall be calculated on an annual consumption basis. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

(a) A Stage 4 condition exists when the city council declares a Stage 4 water supply shortage. Upon the declaration by the city council of a Stage 4 water supply shortage, the department will implement the mandatory Stage 4 conservation measures identified in this section.

(b) Stage 4 Water Conservation Measures. The following water conservation requirements apply during a declared Stage 4 water supply shortage:

(1) No Watering or Irrigating. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area is prohibited. This restriction does not apply to the following categories of use, as determined by the department in its sole discretion:

• (A) Maintenance of vegetation, including fruit trees and shrubs, intended for consumption.

• (B) Maintenance of existing landscape necessary for fire protection.

• (C) Maintenance of existing landscape for soil erosion control.

• (D) Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the well-being of protected species.

(E) Maintenance of landscape within active public parks and playing fields, school grounds, golf course greens, and day care centers, provided that such irrigation does not exceed two days per week, according to a schedule established and posted by the department.

• (F) Actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects.

(2) Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions. All leaks, breaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system shall be repaired within twenty-four hours of notification by the department, unless other arrangements are made with the department.

(3) Limits on Filling Ornamental Lakes or Ponds. Filling or re-filling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited, except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life.

(4) Limits on Filling Residential Swimming Pools and Spas. Refilling of more than one foot and initial filling of residential swimming pools or outdoor spas is prohibited.

(5) No New Potable Water Service. Upon declaration of a Stage 4 water supply shortage, no new potable water service will be provided, no new temporary meters or permanent meters will be provided, and no statements of immediate ability to service or provide potable water service will be issued, except under the following circumstances:

• (A) A valid, unexpired building permit has been issued for the project; or

• (B) The project is necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare; or

(C) The applicant provides substantial evidence of an enforceable commitment that water demands for the project will be offset prior to the provision of a new water meter(s) to the satisfaction of the department.

This subsection does not preclude the resetting or turn-on of meters to provide continuation of water service or the restoration of service that has been interrupted for a period of one year or less. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)

When the city manager or designee determines that a sudden event has, or threatens to, significantly diminish the reliability or quality of the city’s water supply, the city manager or designee may declare a catastrophic water supply shortage and impose whatever emergency water allocation or conservation actions deemed necessary, in the professional judgment of the director of public works, to protect the reliability and quality of the city’s water supply, until the emergency passes or city council takes other action. (Ord. No. 2268, § 5, 2014.)