Tag Archives: water conservation

Water Conservation Measures

Staff Reports

Walnut- Are you following the water guidelines? Be sure to check out the updated changes that have been made as follows by the Walnut Valley Water District:

Limits on Watering Hours: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Limits on Watering Days: Water or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water is limited to three (3) days per week. This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low-flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two (2) gallons of water per hour. This provision also does not apply to watering or irrigating 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 very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.

Limit on Watering Duration: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device is limited to no more than fifteen (15) minutes water per day per station.

No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff: Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas 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 of 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.

Obligations to Fix Leaks, Breaks, or Malfunctions: All breaks, leaks, or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected and in no event more than five (5) days after receiving written notice from the District is prohibited.

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, is prohibited, except by use of a hand held hose equipped with a self-closing water shut-off nozzle. This subsection does not apply to any commercial car washing facility.

Limits on Watering Following Precipitation/Rainfall:  Water or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water within forty-eight (48) hours following measurably precipitation is prohibited.

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 Irrigating Ornamental Turf on Public Street Medians: Irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians with potable water is prohibited.

No Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems Water Systems: Installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service.

Drink Water Served Upon Request Only: Eating or drinking establishments, including but not limited to a restaurant, hotel, café, cafeteria, bar, or other public place where food or drinks are sold, served, or offered for sale, will not provide drinking water to any person unless expressly requested.

Option to Decline Daily Linen Services at Commercial Lodging Establishments: Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments are encouraged to provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily.

If you wish to report water waste and unauthorized uses of water, visit Walnut Valley Water District at www.wvwd.com or you can call (909) 348-8228.

Water Conservation Measures

Staff Reports

Walnut- Are you following the water guidelines? Be sure to check out the updated changes that have been made as follows by the Walnut Valley Water District:

Limits on Watering Hours: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Limits on Watering Days: Water or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water is limited to three (3) days per week. This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low-flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two (2) gallons of water per hour. This provision also does not apply to watering or irrigating 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 very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.

Limit on Watering Duration: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device is limited to no more than fifteen (15) minutes water per day per station.

No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff: Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas 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 of 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.

Obligations to Fix Leaks, Breaks, or Malfunctions: All breaks, leaks, or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected and in no event more than five (5) days after receiving written notice from the District is prohibited.

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, is prohibited, except by use of a hand held hose equipped with a self-closing water shut-off nozzle. This subsection does not apply to any commercial car washing facility.

Limits on Watering Following Precipitation/Rainfall:  Water or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water within forty-eight (48) hours following measurably precipitation is prohibited.

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 Irrigating Ornamental Turf on Public Street Medians: Irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians with potable water is prohibited.

No Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems Water Systems: Installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service.

Drink Water Served Upon Request Only: Eating or drinking establishments, including but not limited to a restaurant, hotel, café, cafeteria, bar, or other public place where food or drinks are sold, served, or offered for sale, will not provide drinking water to any person unless expressly requested.

Option to Decline Daily Linen Services at Commercial Lodging Establishments: Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments are encouraged to provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily.

If you wish to report water waste and unauthorized uses of water, visit Walnut Valley Water District at www.wvwd.com or you can call (909) 348-8228.

CH Allows Watering 3-Times Per Week

Staff Reports

Chino Hills- A meeting that was held on July 12 recommended that the Chino Hills City Council review a recommendation to adopt an urgency Water conservation Ordinance that would allow watering to move to three-times per week instead of the two-times per week.

June has been a record high with the heat, so concerns about distressed and dying trees was fast tracked for a special meeting in the City Council Chambers at the City Hall.

On July 13, Chino Hills City Council released that they took action on an Urgency Water Conservation Ordinance and declared a Stage II Moderate Conservation Alert that went into effect immediately. This is now allowing the community to use water for outdoor irrigation three-times per week.

The City of Chino Hills released the following restrictions:

The Stage II Moderate Conservation Alert that went into effect immediately with last night’s Council action limits outdoor irrigation to 3 days per week. Residential addresses ending in an even number may use water: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (except 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.). Residential addresses ending in an odd number may use water: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays (except 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.). Non-residential addresses may use water: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (except 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.). All irrigation shall not exceed fifteen (15) minutes per watering-station, except for drip or micro-spray irrigation systems which shall not exceed 30 minutes per station.

The Stage II Moderate Conservation Alert also imposes the following restrictions:

  • Prohibits outdoor watering of landscaping between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Prohibits application of water to hard surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, and parking areas etc. or irrigation causing runoff, etc.
  • Requires the repair of leaks within 48 hours.
  • Prohibits use of water hose without a shutoff valve.
  • Prohibits irrigating outdoor landscape after measure rain (1/10” or more within a 48 hour period)
  • Limits pool-filling to the above specified irrigation days.
  • Decorative water fountains at commercial properties may only be operated if the water is part of a re-circulating system.
  • Vehicles, trailers, boats, and livestock can be washed with a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle.
  • Restaurants may not serve water unless the customer request water.
  • Water may not run off or leak from landscaped areas to streets, sidewalks, or other paved areas due to incorrectly directed or maintained sprinklers or over watering.
  • Fire hydrants may only be used for firefighting. *

*An exception may be made for construction use through a City-designated meter when recycled water is not available.

City of Chino Hills reminds everyone that the new Ordinance reinforces the need to continue to conserve water with the current drought conditions, and will continue to encourage the replacement of turf with drought tolerant vegetation; improve the water system to limit failures; and increase the use of recycled water as well as enforce water restrictions.

For additional information, you may view the Water Conservation Ordinance on the City website at: www.chinohills.org/waterconservationordinance.org

Walnut Valley Water District Adopts Mandatory Conservation

WALNUT VALLEY WATER DISTRICT

lake-oroville-reservoir

Lake Oroville reservoir in Northern California, seen here in early 2014, is at 30% of capacity. (Photo Courtesy: California Department of Water Resources)

Walnut – The Walnut Valley Water District Board of Directors voted at their August 18 meeting to adopt a Stage 1 Water Supply Shortage. This action comes in response to the state’s ongoing drought and the recently enacted emergency regulations by the State Water Resources Control Board establishing statewide mandatory water use restrictions. These enhanced restrictions become effective August 28. Stage 1 restrictions are intended to further curtail outdoor water use which accounts for more than one half of a typical family’s monthly usage.

Adoption of the mandatory conservation measures are a result of the serious statewide drought impacting the entire State of California. Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought-related ‘State of Emergency’ in January of 2014. Since that time, California has experienced one of the driest snowpack and fourth lowest runoff in 100 years. As a result, mandatory water conservation measures are being implemented throughout the state. Some of the conservation measures in the Stage 1 include:

Limits on Watering Hours: watering your lawn or landscaping is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.

  • 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 five (5) days.
  • No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff: Watering any landscaped area cannot cause excessive water flow or runoff onto the sidewalk or street.
  • No Washing Down Hard or Paved Surfaces: Washing down hard or paved surfaces, such as sidewalks or driveways, is prohibited.
  • Limits on Washing Vehicles: Using a hose to wash a vehicle is prohibited, except by use of a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle.
  • Drinking Water Served Upon Request Only: Eating or drinking establishments, including but not limited to a restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria, bar, or other public places, will not provide drinking water to any person unless expressly requested.
  • Option to Decline Daily Linen Services at Commercial Lodging Establishments: Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments are encouraged to provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily.
Lake Oroville reservoir 2011 and 2014

Lake Oroville reservoir, seen here in 2011 (top) and in 2014 (bottom). The reservoir is one of the largest in California. (Photo Courtesy: California Department of Water Resources)

In 2009, the District adopted Ordinance No. 06-09-07, An Ordinance of the WVWD to Establish Water Use Efficiency Requirements and Water Supply Shortage Stages, to assist in managing our water supply. The ordinance has four stages, each with more progressively restrictive uses of water. The stages are enacted based on both short- and long-term water supplies and Board approval. WVWD for many years has encouraged voluntary conservation by keeping in effect since 2009 “Permanent Water Use Efficiency Requirements” that contained very similar restrictions as Stage 1 in preventing water waste.

When asked about the Board decision to adopt the mandatory water-saving measures, Board President, Barbara Carrera, noted, “Our District customers have done an excellent job using water wisely over the years. In light of the state’s current drought situation and the State Board’s recent adoption of the emergency conservation regulations, we must all take the extra step to save even more.” President Carrera went on to state that, “The District’s Board of Directors genuinely appreciates the efforts of all our customers to work together and save water wherever possible. Everyone working together to save water can make a very big difference in conserving our precious water supplies.”

The District’s customers for many years have reduced local water usage — we are asking for everyone to do a little more.

For questions about the new mandatory conservation measures or to learn more ways to save water, visit the District’s website at wvwd.com, or call customer service at (909) 595-1268.

Chino Hills: In The News

STAFF REPORTS

 

Chino Hills – The City of Chino Hills has announced that a new drop off zone for students will be available at the Community Center, come Mon., May 12.

 

Ayala High School students will now be allowed to be dropped off at the Chino Hills Community Center parking lot for the remainder of the school year. Motorists may enter the parking lot at Bulldog Way, turn left to the southern parking lot, and exit south on Peyton Drive. Safety will be enhanced if motorists follow this one-way traffic flow during drop-off and pick-up periods. City officials will evaluate the effectiveness of the use of this parking lot as an ongoing student drop-off zone.

 

In more news, the City of Chino Hills’ 14th Annual Water Conservation Design-A-Sign contest recently honored its winners. This year’s theme was “Catch Those Drops, Don’t Let Them Get Away,” and local children designed water conservation signs to promote awareness and learn about this precious natural resource.

 

With a total of 267 entries, two grand prize winners were awarded. Calvin Park, a 6th Grade student at Oak Ridge Elementary won an X-Box 360 with Kinect; and Myra Zhan, a 10th Grade student from Ayala High School won an iPad Mini. The Chino Valley YMCA donated one-year Youth Facility Memberships, valued at $75, to all winners, who also received water conservation backpacks filled with various goodies, tickets to Harkin’s Theatres, and a $10 Gift Card for Cold Stone Creamery.

 

Winning posters for 2014 have been made into permanent Water Conservation Street Signs, now on display on streetlight poles along City Center Drive at the Chino Hills Government Center. The signs will also be moved to the winning students’ schools before being permanently installed at various locations throughout the City.

 

 

 

Chino Hills: Stage II Water Alert

STAFF REPORTS

Water Conservation

Photo Courtesy: Google

Chino Hills – While the east coast is experiencing one of the coldest winters on record, Southern California is wishing it had a little weather; rain, to be precise.

With Governor Brown declaring a Drought State of Emergency on Jan. 17, the City of Chino Hills has confirmed a Stage II Moderate Water Conservation Alert in accordance with its Water Conservation Ordinance, effective immediately.

Nadeem Majaj, the City’s Director of Public Works, said, “Last year was the driest year on record in the State of California and Chino Hills is redoubling our efforts to use water carefully and to remind our residents that water conservation should be a way of life.”

According to the City, Stage II is declared when it is anticipated that the water supply may be reduced by up to 10%.  The California Department of Water Resources has indicated that the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), one of the providers of water imported to Chino Hills, will not receive any water from the State Water Project which originates from the Sacramento Delta.  However, because of improvements in water storage, water deliveries from MWD are not anticipated to be reduced.

“Chino Hills and our residents have been at the forefront of conservation,” Majaj continued.  “We are required as a community to reduce water use by 20 percent by the year 2020, and we are well on the way to achieving the state-mandated goal.”

Residents and readers in all cities can continue to conserve our precious resource by adhering to the following prohibitions and restrictions:

  • Do not hose-wash sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, etc.
  • Repair all residential and business water leaks.
  • Do not water any outdoor landscaping between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Do not overwater landscaping, or allow water to run off into streets, sidewalks or other paved areas.  Keep sprinklers well maintained to prevent leaking.
  • Wash vehicles, trailers, boats (and livestock) from a bucket, and quickly rinse with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle.  Look for Car Wash businesses that use recycled water.

There are simple things you can do every day such as using a broom instead of a hose for outdoor cleanup, having fun contests to see who can take the shortest shower in the house, and not ordering water in restaurants unless you really plan on drinking it.  Did you know that you can save four gallons of water per minute just by turning the water off while brushing your teeth?  That is 200 gallons per week for a family of four!  You can also keep your eyes open and report concerns that you observe by calling the City’s Water Wise Hotline, at (909) 364-2850.

Water Conservation…every little drop helps.