Community's Help Needed to Comply with Upcoming Water Restrictions

April 13, 2015

http://www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us/pw/waterrestrictions

In response to increasingly severe drought conditions and a record low snowpack measurement, Governor Brown issued an executive order on April 1 mandating a statewide 2S% reduction in water use. Garden Grove, along with a number of California cities and local water agencies must comply with the order by February 28, 2016, by adopting mandatory restrictions on water usage.

As Garden Grove moves from a Voluntary Conservation stage to Mandatory Conservation - Water Alert, upcoming restrictions are necessary in order to safeguard the state's remaining water supply.

The Mandatory Conservation -Water Alert stage requires that lawn watering, landscape irrigation, and filling or refilling of swimming pools will be limited to designated days, before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. Watering will be permitted any day if a water shut-off nozzle or drip irrigation system is used. Washing of vehicles will also be limited to designated days, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Commercial car washes are exempt from restrictions. Designated days are based on an odd or even last digit of an address, corresponding to odd or even numbered days of the week.

The City has already shut off water at all medians with turf and will begin the process of removing browning turf from the medians and replacing it with drought tolerant plants and high-efficiency irrigation systems.

The City has proactively partnered with the Municipal Water District of Orange County since 2001 offering residential and commercial rebates for water conservation devices, such as high efficiency clothes washers and toilets, turf removal, smart irrigation timers, etc. The City has also has sent notification letters to residents who waste water by overwatering, washing down driveways and not fixing broken sprinklers.

The Governor's executive order also requires that local water agencies adopt new rate structures that encourage water conservation. Specifics for Garden Grove have yet to be determined, as City officials wait for further information and direction from the State.