OAKLAND, August 12, 2014
Mandatory outdoor watering restrictions in effect for EBMUD residents and businesses
As the drought continues, East Bay Municipal Utility District customers were told today to comply with new mandatory statewide watering restrictions.
Effective immediately, EBMUD customers must:
- Limit watering of outdoor landscapes to two times per week maximum.
- Prevent excess runoff when watering their landscapes.
- Use only hoses with shutoff nozzles to wash vehicles.
- Use a broom or air blower, not water, to clean hard surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks, except as needed for health and safety purposes.
- Turn off any fountain or decorative water feature unless the water is recirculated.
Last month, the State Water Resources Control Board asked all water suppliers in California to prohibit certain types of outdoor water use to protect California’s limited water supplies. Today’s unanimous vote by the Board of Directors makes those restrictions the rule in the EBMUD service area until further notice.
In February, the EBMUD Board of Directors asked customers for a 10 percent voluntary cutback. As of July 31, customers have followed through with a 10.7 percent reduction in water demand.
“Thanks to ratepayers’ investment in additional water supplies, customers’ ongoing conservation and the additional water use cutbacks made this year, EBMUD’s water supply continues in fair condition this summer despite the severe drought,” said Board of Directors President Andy Katz. “Yet, we do agree with the state board that these restrictions will stretch our supplies in case next winter fails to bring enough snow and rain.”
EBMUD will not issue tickets or fines to customers who ignore the new outdoor water use restrictions.
“We’ve found in past droughts that the carrot works better than the stick,” said Katz. For the remainder of the year, EBMUD will continue to promote its existing conservation programs, including landscape conversion rebates and home survey kits, and will inform customers how to follow the new outdoor water use restrictions.
Most customers should be able to meet the ten percent voluntary cutback by abiding by the new outdoor water use restrictions, fixing household leaks or installing water-efficient fixture and landscaping. Additional water saving tips and ideas can be found at www.ebmud.com/watersmart.
Residents can report water waste online at www.ebmud.com/reportwaterwaste.