Amid an ever-worsening statewide drought, Anaheim could join a growing list of cities and water agencies to enact more restrictions in response to a state mandate.
The Anaheim City Council is slated to approve the four state-required restrictions, against:
1. Excess runoff from watering outdoor landscaping or lawns.
2. Using a hose that doesn’t have a shut-off nozzle to wash a car
3. Washing driveways and sidewalks with drinkable water, and
4. Using drinkable water in a fountain or “decorative water feature” unless the water is re-circulated.
Additionally, the city plans to ban:
- Landscape watering between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., except spot watering with a hose and nozzle, or as necessary for irrigation system maintenance and repairs; and
- “Fire hydrant flushing” of city hydrants, unless the water is captured or reused, or the flushing is needed for immediate health and safety or to ensure compliance with drinking water standards.
In response to the drought, last month the State Water Resources Control Board required local water agencies to adopt water conservation plans aimed at reducing water use by their customers.
If local agencies don’t comply, state officials can levy fines of $10,000 per day.
Local agencies, in turn, can issue fines of up to $500 against violators.
But in Anaheim’s case, it appears the city won’t be issuing fines to enforce water regulations.
The city’s public utilities department instead “will focus on education and outreach in order to achieve water savings,” according to a city staff report.
The meeting starts Tuesday at 5 p.m. Click here for the city staff report.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.