U.S. Water News Online
ENCINITAS, Calif. —The Olivenhain Municipal Water District Board of Directors adopted a Drought Response Conservation Ordinance at its recent Board Meeting. Immediately following the adoption of the Ordinance, the General Manager declared a Level 1 Drought Watch for the District's service area effective immediately.
The ordinance consists of four levels and is modeled after the regional drought ordinance developed in partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority and other local water suppliers. Water suppliers throughout San Diego County have adopted or will adopt their own drought ordinances generally consistent with restrictions that are being enforced across the region.
A Level 1 condition requires six primary use restrictions. Compliance with these restrictions during Level 1 is voluntary; however these same restrictions become mandatory and will incur penalties if the District moves to Level 2. Level 1 restrictions, which are also generally considered best water management practices, include not washing off paved surfaces, not allowing runoff from irrigation, watering before 8 AM or after 6 PM, using a shut off nozzle on hoses and repairing all leaks promptly.
During a Level 1 Drought Watch condition, the District will increase its public education and outreach efforts to emphasize public awareness of the need to implement the water conservation practices adopted in the Drought Response Ordinance. At Level 1 the District is asking customers to help conservation efforts by voluntarily cutting back their water use by at least 10 percent within and around their homes and businesses. If 10 percent water reduction goals are not accomplished in Level 1, a Level 2 Drought Alert could be declared.
In a Level 2 “Drought Alert” (up to 20% reduction required) all water reduction measures in Level 1 will continue; however they will become mandatory and will incur penalties. The District Board decided to diverge from the Regional Ordinance by providing that no new potable water service connections will be allowed in Level 2.
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