Bay Area water district further limits when you can water

The assigned watering days are:

– Monday: Ross, Tiburon, Belvedere, San Geronimo, Forest Knolls, Lagunitas

– Tuesday: San Rafael, unincorporated Marin County

– Wednesday: San Quentin, Sausalito, Corte Madera, San Anselmo

– Thursday: Mill Valley

– Friday: Woodacre, Larkspur, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Kentfield

– Saturday and Sunday: No irrigation

The one-day-a-week limit is expected to help the district meet its goal to reduce water use by 40% compared to the average annual use over the past three years. The schedule will make it easier for the district to enforce the restrictions, said district spokesperson Jeanne Mariani-Belding.

The district is also decreasing the number of days customers can use drip irrigation from three days a week to two days a week. With drip irrigation, customers can choose their water days. 

“We typically see residential water demand double during the summer months, which is primarily due to lawn irrigation,” Larry Russell, vice president of the district’s board of directors, said in a statement. “This drought is unprecedented and we’re asking all of our customers to use as little water as they can. These new irrigation restrictions are designed to enable us reach our collective districtwide goal of reducing water use by 40%.”

The Marin Municipal Water District, which serves 200,000 customers, was the first major Bay Area district to declare a water shortage emergency and impose restrictions.

The new water rules add to the list of restrictions that were adopted by the water district May 1. Those included bans on washing vehicles at home, power washing homes and businesses, washing driveways and sidewalks and flooding gutters. Restrictions also prohibit watering between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to minimize evaporation, and require shutoff nozzles for hoses to prevent water waste. For a complete list of restrictions, visit MarinWater.org/WaterRules.

Amid a worsening drought brought on by two consecutive winters marked by dry conditions, water districts, counties and cities are issuing water restrictions. The city of Sonoma started requiring residents to limit watering lawns on July 1 to only two time periods a week: Mondays and Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (For a complete list of Sonoma’s water-use rules, visit www.sonomacity.org/drought.)

Healdsburg banned the use of sprinklers and drip-irrigation systems for all residential, commercial and industrial customers last month, according to a statement from the city. The town in north Sonoma County is also prohibiting planting new landscaping or grass, power washing driveways and hardscapes and washing cars. Residential customers in Healdsburg are being assigned a water budget of 74 gallons per person per day, while commercial customers are required to reduce water usage by 40%. 

Here’s a rundown of the water rules, both mandatory and voluntary, across the Bay Area:  

Alameda County Water District

There are no mandatory restrictions. The district put together a lengthy online package with tips on water conservation. Find it here.

Find more information at ACWD.org.

Cal Water/Los Altos

The district prohibits the following:

– Applying water to outdoor landscapes that causes runoff onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots or structures
– Using a hose to wash cars unless the hose is fitted with a shutoff nozzle or device that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use
– Applying water to driveways and sidewalks
– Using water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, except where the water is part of a recirculating system
– Applying water to outdoor landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall
– Using potable water to irrigate outside of new construction without drip or microspray systems
– Irrigating outdoors between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., unless local ordinances state otherwise
– Not repairing leaks within five days of notification

Find more information at CalWater.com.

Contra Costa Water District

There are no mandatory restrictions, but the district is asking customers to be smart about water use and offered these tips:

-Inspect irrigation for breaks and leaks.
-Use the district’s lawn and landscape watering schedule.
-Avoid watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
-Mulch landscape areas to retain moisture.
-Run full loads of laundry and dishes.

Find more information at CCWater.com.

East Bay Municipal Utility District

There are no mandatory restrictions. The district is in a stage 1 drought and calling on customers to voluntarily reduce water use by 10%.

Find more information at EBMUD.com.

City of Healdsburg

Healdsburg has some of the most extreme mandatory restrictions in the region. The city banned the use of sprinklers and drip irrigation systems for all residential, commercial and industrial customers.

The town in north Sonoma County also prohibits planting new landscaping or grass, power washing driveways and hardscapes and washing cars. 

Residential customers are being assigned a water budget of 74 gallons per person per day while commercial customers are required to reduce water usage by 40%. 

Watering by hand is allowed as long as it’s within water allowance.

Find more information on Healdsburg’s water-use rules here.

Marin Water

The district has a lengthy list of mandatory water restrictions with the goal of reducing water use by 40% districtwide.

-Spray irrigation is limited to no more than one day per week on designated watering days; see schedule. 
-Drip irrigation is limited to no more than two days per week.
-Outdoor watering is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to prevent evaporation.
-Covers are required for all pools and spas. Liquid pool covers are acceptable. 
-Do not wash vehicles at home. Use a car wash that recycles water instead.
-Do not power wash homes or businesses.
-Do not wash driveways or sidewalks.
-Do not waste water. Flooding gutters is prohibited.
-Leaks must be fixed within 48 hours of being discovered.
-Garden hoses must have a shutoff nozzle.
-Golf course irrigation is restricted to greens and tees.
-Do not water grass on public medians.
-Do not use potable water for dust control, compaction, sewer flushing or street cleaning.
-Do not refill or top off decorative fountains.

For more information visit, MarinWater.org.

North Marin Water District

The district is asking customers in the Novato service area to voluntarily reduce use by 20% compared with the same time last year. There is a drought surcharge of $1 per 1,000 gallons (more than 300 gallons per day) in effect July through October. Residential customers using less than 300 gallons per day are not subject to the surcharge. Find more info for Novato customers here.

The district is imposing water use restrictions effective July 1 including bans on washing down exterior paved areas, using water for dust control on construction sites and washing cars without a hose equipped with a shutoff nozzle. Find a full list of restrictions here.

For more information on the district visit NMWD.com.

Napa Water

There are no mandatory restrictions, but the district has a goal to reduce summer water use by 15% from last year.

The district recommends the following ways to cut water use:

– Reduce lawn watering to two days per week or water one less day per week than you did last year.
– As always, avoid overspray and runoff — sidewalks do not need to be watered.
– Hand-water dry areas rather than running sprinklers to excess.

Find more information at CityofNapa.org.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

There are no mandatory restrictions. The district is asking customers to improve water efficiency to voluntarily reduce irrigation use by 10%. 

Find more information at SFPUC.org.

Solano County Water District

There are no mandatory restrictions.

Get water-saving tips and more information at SCWA2.com.

City of Sonoma

The city of Sonoma will required residents and business owners to cut water use by 20% beginning July 1. 

Among the most extreme restrictions that went into effect July 1 are a limit on watering lawns to only two time periods a week: Mondays and Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The following will also be banned starting July 1:

– Refilling or initial filling of a swimming pool from the city’s water system except to maintain the water level for the proper operation of swimming pool pumps and filters;
– Use of water for nonrecirculating ornamental fountains by commercial customers;
– Noncommercial washing of privately owned motor vehicles, trailers and boats except from a bucket and a hose equipped with a shutoff nozzle;
– Any use of water from a fire hydrant except for fighting fires. Use for essential construction needs may be permitted by the director upon submission of a permit application for construction water;
– Use of potable water for dust control at construction sites.

There are a few exemptions, including irrigation of athletic fields and the city’s plaza and watering with a handheld bucket or hose.

You can find more updates and information at www.sonomacity.org/drought.

Sonoma Water

There are no mandatory restrictions, but the district is encouraging customers to reduce water usage by 20%.

Find more information at SonomaWater.org.