Drought Resources
Stage 2 – Mandatory 20% Water Use Reduction
The Walnut Valley Water District Board of Directors has declared a Level 2 Water Shortage, which calls for a 20% reduction of water use. The following customer actions are now required.
- Limits on Watering Days: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water will be limited to a maximum of 3 days per week. This does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low-flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour. This also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. The District reserves the right to amend the watering day limits within each prescribed stage as determined by conservation necessity.
- Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks, or Malfunctions: All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 72 hours after written notification by the District unless other arrangements are made by the District.
- Limit on Water Duration: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than 15 minutes per day per station. This does not apply to landscape irrigation systems that exclusively use very low-flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour and weather-based controllers or stream rotor sprinkles that meet the 70 percent efficiency standard.
- Limits on Watering Hours: Watering or irrigation of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
- Limits on Watering Following Precipitation/Rainfall: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water within 48 hours following measurable precipitation is prohibited.
- No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff: Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area in a manner that causes or allows excessive water flow or runoff onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter, or ditch is prohibited.
- No Washing Down Hard or Paved Surfaces: Washing down hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios, or alleys, is prohibited except when 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 positive self-closing water shut-off device, a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used, or a low-volume, high-pressure water broom.
- Limits on Washing Vehicles: Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat, or trailer, whether motorized or not, is prohibited, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device. This does not apply to any commercial car washing facility.
- Re-circulating Water Required for Water Fountains and Decorative Water Features: Operating a water fountain or other decorative water feature that does not use re-circulated water is prohibited.
- No Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems Water System: Installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service.
- No Installation of Non-re-circulating in Commercial Car Wash and Laundry Systems: Installation of non-re-circulating water systems is prohibited in new commercial conveyor car wash and new commercial laundry systems.
- No Irrigating Ornamental Turf on Public Street Medians: Irrigating ornamental turf on Public Street Medians with potable water is prohibited.
- Negligent Waste of Water: At the discretion of the General Manager, the District reserves the right to determine negligent waste or misuse of water supplies. Such water use constitutes an unauthorized waste of water and is subject to the imposition penalties outlined in Section 14 of Ordinance No. 01-18-22
- Limits on Filling Residential Swimming Pools and Spas: Re-filling of water constituting more than one foot of depth and initial filling of residential swimming pools or outdoor spas with potable water is prohibited.