Water Conservation

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Happy Suburban Water Systems customers and family pictured with our Conservation Kit. Please utilize the tools on this page to Conserve Water!

Suburban Water Systems Stage 2 Conservation Restrictions

On May 24, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) adopted Resolution No. 2022-0018, Emergency Regulations to Reduce Water Demand and Improve Water Conservation which requires urban water suppliers to implement Level 2 demand reduction actions by June 10, 2022; and prohibit the irrigation of non-functional turf in commercial, industrial and institutional as well as Home-Owner Association sectors. However, the use of water is not prohibited to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings or to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need. Furthermore, an urban water supplier may approve a request for continued irrigation of non-functional turf where the user certifies that the turf is a low water use plant with a plant factor of 0.3 or less, and demonstrates the actual use is less than 40% of reference evapotranspiration. The State Water Board defines non-functional turf as grass that is solely ornamental and is not regularly used for recreational purposes or for civic or community events. Non-functional turf does not include sports fields and turf that is regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events. The state-wide emergency regulations adopted may remain in effect for up to one year, unless rescinded earlier, or extended by the State Water Board.

In response to the Governor’s EO and the State Board’s adopted Emergency Regulations to implement Level 2 reductions of non-essential water use, Suburban Water Systems will implement Stage 2 of its Schedule No. 14.1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan, in its SJH and WLM service areas requesting 20% reduction in customer usage.

If approved by the CPUC, Stage 2 of the proposed Plan will become effective on July 20, 2022. Please see the Stage 2 Mandates below.

Stage 2 Customer notice 2022

Suburban Stage 2 Public Participation Hearing:

Drought Surcharge Appeal Form

Stage 1: Water Conservation – Non Essential or Unauthorized Water Use

Non-essential and prohibited use restrictions are in effect at all times until the CPUC authorizes deactivation.
a. Outdoor Irrigating Restrictions (Stage 1)

Irrigating ornamental landscapes with potable water is limited to no more than three (3) days per week, on a schedule established and posted by Suburban on its website or otherwise provided to customers by bill message, bill insert, direct mail, or email, or as follows:
1. Customer with even-numbered addresses may irrigate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
2. Customers with odd-numbered addresses may irrigate on Tuesdays, Thursday, and Sundays.
3. For governmental entities irrigating parks, any given station may be watered only three (3) times per week.
4. Customers without a street address may irrigate on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
5. Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, irrigation of special landscape areas or commercial nurseries may occur as needed, provided that the customer who wishes to irrigate a special landscape area or commercial nursery presents Suburban with a plan to achieve water use reductions commensurate with those that would be achieved by complying with foregoing restrictions.
6. Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, when a city, a county, or other local public agency in one of Suburban’s service areas duly adopts restrictions on the number of days or hours of the day that customers may irrigate which are different than those adopted by Suburban, Suburban may enforce the city, county, or other local public agency’s restrictions.
Irrigating ornamental landscape with potable water is prohibited during the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water during and for 48 hours following measurable rainfall is prohibited.
The foregoing restrictions do not apply to:
1. Landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use drip irrigation systems and/or micro spray irrigation system;
2. Irrigating ornamental landscapes with the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, with a continuously monitored hose which is fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use or monitored, or for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. Landscape that is irrigated with recycled water.
Excessive water flow or run-off.
1. Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area in a manner that causes or allows excessive water flow or runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures is prohibited.
Washing vehicles.
1. The use of a hose that dispenses potable water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it is prohibited. Use of water for washing commercial aircraft, cars, buses, boats, trailers or other commercial vehicles at any time is prohibited, except at commercial or fleet vehicle or boat washing facilities operated at a fixed location where equipment using water is properly maintained to avoid wasteful use.
Washing down hard or paved surfaces.
1. Use of potable water for washing buildings, structures, driveways, patios, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard surfaced areas is prohibited, except in cases where health and safety are at risk.
Re-circulating water required for water fountains and decorative features. Operating a water fountain or other decorative feature that does not use re-circulated water is prohibited.
Commercial businesses, including restaurants and other food service providers can only serve drinking water to customers on request.Commercial businesses, including restaurants and other food service providers can only serve drinking water to customers on request.
Hotel/motel operators must provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily. Information about this option must be prominently displayed.
Unmetered water from fire hydrants cannot be used for any reason other than fire suppression or Suburban’s system maintenance purposes.
Waste caused by correctable leaks, breaks or malfunctions. This loss of potable water may be cited for water waste after a five-day period has passed in which the leak or malfunction could have been corrected.
There cannot be unreasonable or excessive use of potable water for dust control or earth compaction.
Operation of commercial car washes that do not recycle the potable water used as required by the California Water Code Sections 10950-10953 is prohibited.
Other wasteful practices may be identified from time to time by the Commission, Suburban, or governmental agency.

Stage 2: Water Shortage Contingency Plan

A Stage 2 condition exists when it is determined that due to drought or other water supply conditions, a water supply shortage or threatened shortage exists and a further consumer demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and appropriately respond to existing water conditions.
Additional Water Shortage Contingency Plan Measures: In addition to the non-essential or unauthorized uses of water identified in Stage 1, the following water use restriction requirements apply during Stage 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, except where necessary to address an immediate health or safety need or to comply with a term or condition in a permit issued by a state or federal agency:
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 seventy-two (72) hours of notification from Suburban.
Prohibit the irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites.
Notwithstanding subdivision 2.b above, the use of water is not prohibited by this section to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings or to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need.
Notwithstanding subdivision 2.b above, an urban water supplier may approve a request for continued irrigation of non-functional turf where the user certifies that the turf is a low water use plant with a plant factor of 0.3 or less, and demonstrates the actual use is less than 40% of reference evapotranspiration.
Rates: Suburban shall implement a Commission-approved Schedule No. 14.1 Staged Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

Suburban Water Systems’ Water Conservation and Rationing Plan is described in our Tariffs and Rates Rule 14.1 document (PDF). We also encourage you to take advantage of conservation programs available on our web site.

Urban Water Management Plan 2020

Suburban Water Systems’ Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) has been prepared consistent with the requirements under Water Code Sections 10610 through 10656 of the Urban Water Management Planning Act (Act) and its amendments. The Act requires that “every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, to prepare and adopt, in accordance with prescribed requirements, an urban water management plan.” These plans support the Suburban Water Systems’ long-term resource planning to ensure adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs.

Ways that Suburban Water Systems customers can save water

Water Saving Rebates

Water Saving Rebates are available for numerous rebates such as clothes washers, irrigation controllers, and more. Visit www.socalwatersmart.com and choose “Residential Rebates” to apply. You will need your account # to fill out the online rebate application.

Free Landscape Workshops – Save Time, Save Money and Save Water

FREE LANDSCAPE CLASSES are offered by the Metropolitan Water District for Suburban Water Systems customers! Visit the website below for schedule, more information, and to register for classes.

https://www.bewaterwise.com/classes.html

Suburban Landscape Classes and Webinars

Suburban Water Systems periodically offers landscape classes and webinars on a variety of topics.

2022-07-27-Landscape-Class-Presentation (pdf)

View available classes and visit the sign up form to register.

Check out these new videos to help you locate leaks and save water on your landscaping

How-to videos — English:

How-to videos — Spanish

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