Mandatory water use restrictions now in effect in Santa Ana

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Santa Ana Declares Phase II Water Supply Shortage Emergency City Adopts Mandatory Water Use Restrictions, Effective Immediately

The Santa Ana City Council approved amendments to the city’s existing water conservation program and adopted a Phase II Water Supply Shortage at last night’s City Council meeting, targeting a 12 percent citywide reduction in water usage through mandatory water use restrictions. The Phase II resolution imposes additional water use restrictions such as two-day watering and fixing leaks within 48 hours.

“Water conservation is critical to sustaining the city’s ongoing ability to meet customer water demand,” commented Mayor Miguel Pulido. “Every drop we save helps minimizing the hardship of potential water shortages in the future,” Pulido added.

Deepening drought conditions in California called for Governor Brown to issue an executive order earlier this year to reduce statewide water use by 25 percent from 2013 levels. The State Water Resources Control Board followed the executive order with expanded emergency regulations to safeguard the state’s remaining water supplies. The City of Santa Ana has been under a Stage I voluntary conservation program since February 2014. It has adopted the Phase II declaration and mandatory water use restrictions to comply with these regulations and help extend existing supplies into the future.

“Santa Ana is conservation minded and has already reduced its water consumption by 4 percent since 2014, but we need to do more,” adds Nabil Saba, Water Resources Manager for the City of Santa Ana. “We must work together to achieve an additional 12 percent in water savings this year to ensure the ongoing availability of water for our community.”

Since over 45% of all water used in Santa Ana is attributed to outdoor watering, the City Council adopted mandatory water use restrictions that primarily targets outdoor use, including:

• Outdoor watering is restricted to no more than two days per week (Mondays and Thursdays) and only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Leaks must be repaired within 48 hours of notification by the City.
• No washing down sidewalks or driveways.
• No excessive water flow or runoff that causes water to flow onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch.
• No washing vehicles with a hose, unless the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle.
• No operating a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is part of a recirculating system.
• No outdoor watering during and 48 hours following measurable rainfall.
• Restaurants and other food service establishments can only serve water to customers on request
• Hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of not having towels and linens laundered daily. Please contact the City for complimentary signs/notices.
• Repeated violations will be penalized with fines of up to $500 following a warning and written notice.

Along with a comprehensive outreach initiative, the city plans to launch various educational events and incentives programs in the coming months to help the community save water. Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to visit Santa Ana’s water conservation page at santa-ana.org/sawatersmart/ for gardening tips, rebates and the city’s Turf Removal Program offered in conjunction with Metropolitan Water District. To learn more, contact the Water Resources Division by phone at (714) 647-3500 or email conservewater@santa-ana.org.

In addition, the City of Santa Ana will soon release its 2014 Water Quality Report, also known as the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), where residents can read important information about the quality of their drinking water as well as information about the drought and water conservation tips. Residents can visit SantaAnaCCR.org to view and download the entire report. To request a printed copy, call 714-647-3320 or emailing info@SantaAnaCCR.org.

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Editor’s Note – Click here for Water Saving Tips from the State of California.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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