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WATERBlogGED

Stage 1 Water Conservation is in Effect

8/25/2015

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For main system customers in Carmel, Carmel Valley, Del Rey Oaks, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Sand City and Seaside:

California American Water’s Monterey customers within the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s (MPWMD) boundaries are in Stage 1 of the emergency conservation plan which requires the following:
  • Waste caused by correctable leaks, breaks or malfunctions must be corrected immediately.  This loss of drinkable water may be cited as water waste after a reasonable period of time has passed in which the leak or malfunction could have been corrected.  Exceptions may be granted by the General Manager for corrections which are not feasible or practical.
  • Watering turf, lawns, gardens or ornamental landscaping before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00  p.m. If watering between these hours, it must be done by drip irrigation or hand watering with trigger nozzles. (Exceptions shall be made by the General Manager for professional gardeners who must water between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.).

Additional Landscape Irrigation Restrictions in the main California American Water system
:  Unless watering is by drip irrigation, through a hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle, or performed by a professional gardener or landscaper, the following schedules apply:

  • Properties water after 5 p.m. and before 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Wednesdays only.  
  • Avoid excessive water use which allows surplus to run to waste, including the use of drinking water for washing buildings, structures, driveways, patios, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard surfaced areas, except in cases where health or safety are at risk.
  • All non-residential water users within the District, must have low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators (2.5 gallons per minute), and all toilets that use 3.5 gallons per flush must have a one-gallon reduction device installed, with the following exception:
  • ***Visitor-serving commercial facilities (including all hotels, motels, restaurants, convention/meeting facilities, and service stations) must have ultra-low flush toilets (1.6 gallons-per-flush maximum).
  • Drinking water must be requested by the customer at a restaurant, hotel, café, cafeteria or other public place where food is sold, served or offered for sale.  Water should not be provided unless specifically requested by the customer.
  • Swimming pools or spas should not be drained or refilled except (a) to prevent or correct structural damage or to comply with public health regulations, or (b) upon prior approval of the General Manager.
  • Wash private vehicles using a trigger nozzle to reduce water use and runoff.  Commercial aircraft, cars, buses, boats, trailers or other commercial vehicles must be washed at a commercial or fleet vehicle or boat washing facility operated at a fixed location where equipment using water is properly maintained to avoid wasteful use.
  • Commercial car washes must recycle at least 50 percent of the potable water used per cycle.Fountains, ponds, lakes or other ornamental water uses must recycle water if the water is from a potable source.
  • Water used for more than minimal landscaping, as defined in the landscaping regulations of the jurisdiction or as described in Article 10.8 of the California Government Code, is considered wasteful.
  • Unmetered hydrant water use by individuals, other than for fire suppression or utility system maintenance purposes, requires approval of the MPMWD General Manager.
  • Potable water must not be used for street cleaning.
  • The use of large quantities of drinking water for dust control or earth compaction requires prior written approval of the General Manager.  The use of non-potable water or other methods of dust control are encouraged.
  • Water may not be transported from the Monterey Peninsula Water Resources System without prior written authorization from the MPWMD.  Emergency or health related situations are exempt from this provision in accordance with Rule 168 (Water Rationing Variance).

The following activities are not considered water waste:

  • Flow resulting from firefighting or essential inspection of fire hydrants
  • Water applied to abate spills of flammable or otherwise hazardous materials, where water application is the appropriate methodology;
  • Water applied to prevent or abate health, safety, or accident hazards when alternate methods are not available;
  • Storm runoff;
  • Flow from fire training activities during Stage 1 Water Conservation through Stage 3 Water Conservation;
  • Reasonable quantities of water applied as dust control as required by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Agency, except when prohibited by Regulation XV.
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Three Key Areas for Water Conservation

8/1/2015

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Here are three areas to mind, when you want to help the cause for water conservation...  brought to you by GREENWISE Water & Landscapes.
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1. Your Lawn
Plan A: If you’ve got a lawn, stop watering it.  It will go dormant.  Let it turn brown and crisp.  Water it once or twice a month to keep it alive, and when rains return, the lawn will revive.  You’ll save time and effort mowing, and more importantly, you’ll save a tremendous amount of water.  When you water once or twice a month, do so only long enough to wet the root zone to a depth of three to five inches.  Use a flat-blade screwdriver or trowel to check.

Plan B: Most Californians think they use more water indoors than outdoors, but typically, the opposite is true.  If you find that the only time you walk across your lawn is to mow it, consider replacing it with water-wise shrubs and bushes that require little maintenance, such as sage, manzanita, Santa Barbara daisy, lavender, yucca, and sedum.

2. Your Toilet
Stop flushing so much.  You don’t need to flush every time you use the toilet.  The 1977 drought – driest year on record in California – taught us “if it’s yellow, let it mellow.”  The average person flushes five times a day, and toilets use on average nearly two gallons per flush.  Eliminate three flushes a day, and you’ll save more than 2,000 gallons a year.  Toilets are the biggest users of water in the typical home.

3. Your Mouth
Educate: Talk to your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors about water and how we use it.  When they know you’re concerned about drought and water supply, they’ll think twice about their own daily practices.  Imagine how much water we’d save statewide if millions of Californians halted sprinklers and skipped some toilet flushes each day.  Word of mouth can help us get there.

Provide Feedback: Give kudos to the neighbor spreading mulch around his trees and shrubs (mulch reduces evaporation).  Give gentle reminders to those watering when they shouldn’t.  (Many local water districts have restricted outdoor watering to only certain days of the week, and even on those days, it’s best to water in the early morning to reduce evaporation).  Tell your family members to keep their showers short.

Bonus Ideas
How you save water depends upon your circumstances. Try these ideas:
Moderate Cost
Install new low-flush toilets
Install a highly-efficient washing machine
Low Cost
Install an aerator that limits how much water flows from your bathroom faucet, but not so much that it interferes with hand washing and teeth brushing.  
Install a shower head shutoff valve that allows you to easily turn the shower water off and on, so you can cut flow while you shampoo and lather.
No Cost
Always run full loads in a dishwasher or washing machine.
Place a bucket under the tub and sink faucet to capture water while you are waiting for the hot water.  Use it in the garden!
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    Dan Finklea
    General Contractor Water & Landscape Systems Expert

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