The Pasadena City Council on June 1, 2015 adopted the City’s Level 2 Water Supply Shortage Plan requiring additional mandatory water restrictions for residents and businesses effective immediately due to the severe drought in California.
Level 2 Plan consists of the following:
- Outdoor watering is only allowed on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
- Before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- A 28-percent water conservation goal is adopted citywide that aligns Pasadena with mandated reductions set by the State.
- Violators will still face fines up to $500 per incident*.
The City Council may have to mandate additional water use restrictions, if water savings are not sufficient during the summer. Check the “Water Savings Gauge” on the City’s website).
Water-use restrictions
The Council action also included the following water-use restrictions:
- No turf irrigation within 48-hours following a measurable rain.
- No washing hard or paved surfaces using potable water, except as necessary to alleviate safety and/or sanitary hazards.
- All master-metered multifamily properties must certify installation of water-efficient shower heads and aerators on faucets by September 30, 2015.
- The two-day per week outdoor watering schedule for Tuesdays and Saturdays is effective immediately through October, with watering only before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- A one-day per week outdoor watering limit takes effect November to March.
- All identified water leaks must be fixed within 48 hours.
- Filling ornamental lakes and ponds is prohibited.
Additional steps by the City
The City is taking additional steps to reduce City water use that include:
- Retrofitting city medians with low-emitting irrigation systems for trees.
- Removing turf at Pasadena fire stations and planting drought-tolerant landscaping.
- Turning off all water fountains at City facilities
- Closing the “Splash Pad” water play facility at La Pintoresca Park for the 2015 summer.
- Investing in Recycled Water Project & Arroyo Seco Canyon Project to increase water supplies.
- Introducing a new graywater program, “Laundry to Landscape” (see this link for an example).
- Acquiring new technology and hardware to capture water flushed from pipes during maintenance.
One final note
We applaud the city’s forward thinking about saving water in these difficult times. The turf removal at Pasadena fire stations and planting drought-tolerant landscaping, coupled with retrofitting city medians with low-emitting irrigation systems is a step in the right direction.
However, we will always have disparity in water rationing until we find a more effective solution beyond fines.
According to data compiled by Dr. Caroline Mini for her dissertation at UCLA, low-income people conserve a little bit more under voluntary drought restrictions. But rich people actually use a little bit more. A $500 fine is easily afforded by the well off communities of Pasadena.
The bigger question that we should ask ourselves is, how can we bring about a wider cultural shift that transcends income groups, so that water can be seen as a common property resource necessary to conserve for the benefit of all?
*Officials with the Pasadena Water and Power Department (PWP) will regularly report back to the City Council on progress to meet the 28-percent conservation goal.
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