California’s Water Regulations

Background on Water Use Regulations in California

California experiences drought periodically. The most recent severe drought from 2011 to 2017 prompted significant legislation. On April 7, 2017 the Governor issued Executive Order (EO) B-40-17, which lifted the drought emergency in all California counties except Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Tuolumne. The action ended the statewide emergency drought proclamation put in place by the Governor on January 17, 2014. The Governor signed a pair of bills in May 2018 to set permanent overall targets for indoor and outdoor water consumption by Californians. (AB1668 and SB606)

The new laws set an initial limit for indoor water use of 55 gallons per person per day in 2022 which gradually drops to 50 gallons per person, per day, by 2030. Outdoor water use standards are expected to be recommended by the Dept of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, by October 2021. 

What does this mean for PureSource Water Customers?

The Executive Order, issued in 2017, directs the State Water Board to keep in place requirements such as monthly water reporting, rules, and specific prohibitions against designated wasteful water use practices until they are replaced with permanent requirements. At this time, the County of Santa Cruz still has water restrictions that PureSource Customers must also comply with. The applicable State and County water use restrictions are:
It is unlawful for any person to use water for any of the following uses:

1. Use of water from any fire hydrant unless specifically authorized by the public water supplier (PureSource), except by regularly constituted fire protection agencies for fire suppression purposes;
2. The watering of grass, lawn, groundcover, shrubbery, open ground, crops and trees, including agricultural irrigation, in a manner or to an extent which allows water to run off from the area being watered;
3. The escape of water through leaks, breaks or malfunction within the Customer’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time within which such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered and corrected. It shall be presumed that a period of 24 hours after the water user discovers such break, leak or malfunction, or receives notice from PureSource of such condition, whichever occurs first, is a reasonable time within which to correct such condition or to make arrangements for correction;
4. The washing of hard or paved surfaces, except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards, and then only by use of a bucket or similar container, a hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle, a pressure washer, a low-volume, high-pressure water efficient broom, or a cleaning machine equipped to recycle the water used;
5. The washing of building exteriors, mobile homes, cars, boats, and recreational vehicles unless the hose is equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle or a pressure washer;
6. The operation of an ornamental fountain unless water for such use is recirculated;
7. The indiscriminate running of water or washing with water which is wasteful and without reasonable purpose;
8. The irrigation of turf, landscape, or other vegetated area between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. unless by drip irrigation, or by hand watering with a quick acting positive shut-off nozzle.
9. The irrigation of turf or ornamental landscapes more than two days in a week, This provision shall not apply to residential vegetable gardens/edible plantings watered with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle;
10. The irrigation of turf, landscape, or other vegetated area using an automatic irrigation system for more than 15 minutes per watering station per assigned day.
11. The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes during and within 48 hours following measurable rainfall.

PureSource recommends that outdoor watering be restricted to short segments of time, adjusting your sprinklers accordingly to prevent any runoff, and leaving enough time between watering to allow the water to soak into the soil. Also remember to adjust sprinkler systems when rain is predicted or has occurred to meet item 11.
Violation of any of these prohibited or restricted water use activities may be punished by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each day in which the violation occurs. Please note that such fines are a last resort and that they may be assessed only by local law enforcement authorities.

PureSource would like to thank all Customers who have voluntarily conserved water throughout the drought, and asks that you continue these efforts as a standard way of life in California. Further information may be obtained from PureSource by email or phone. Again, PureSource Water, Inc. wants to thank you in advance for helping us to help with the water conservation efforts of the State and County. And remember, using water efficiently also helps reduce energy consumption by PureSource, helps prevent seawater intrusion into the aquifer we share with others in the county, and reduces the load on your septic system.