As a statewide drought worsens, Buena Park City Council members may tighten water regulations by declaring a “phase 1 water supply shortage” that would restrict use of outdoor sprinklers.
Under the proposed regulation, residents and businesses only could water lawns and gardens a maximum of three days a week. The tightened regulations are in response to the extreme drought that affects more than 80 percent of California.
The proposal limits watering by residents and businesses with odd numbered addresses to Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Even numbered watering would be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Nobody could water on Sundays.
A vote on the issue is expected at Tuesday’s city council meeting, which starts at 5 p.m.
The restrictions, according to the staff recommendation, would last through October when even stricter winter rules would kick in.
From November through March, watering would be limited to one day a week; Mondays for odd numbered addresses and Thursdays for even numbers.
Penalties for violating the phase 1 restrictions would be a written warning followed by fines of $100 to $500 for multiple violations.
The restrictions are on top of permanent, existing rules that, among other things, ban watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., prohibit hosing down driveways, sidewalks and patios and ban excessive sprinkling that causes water to flow down gutters and sidewalks.
To read the full staff report, click here and scroll through the agenda to item 9 on page 120.
Please contact Tracy Wood directly at twood@voiceofoc.org and follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/tracyVOC.