Level 2 Water Restrictions Lifted

On July 6, 2016, Vallecitos' Board voted to rescind the mandatory drought restrictions under its “Level 2 Drought Alert” and move to voluntary conservation measures under its “Level 1 Drought Watch,” thereby ending restrictions on outdoor watering. Vallecitos customers may now irrigate any day of the week with no limit on the number of watering days, and may irrigate their landscapes as long as necessary. However, the Board expressed their desire to sustain water conservation as a permanent way of life and adopted a new ordinance permanently prohibiting wasteful practices, such as:

• Visible signs of runoff when watering landscapes
• Watering between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• Watering within 48 hours of a measurable rain event
• Hosing down hardscapes (patios, sidewalks, etc.)
• Not using a shut-off nozzle when washing cars
• Not fixing leaks within 48 hours of discovery
• Full list of permanent restrictions

The District’s action was taken in response to the State Water Resources Control Board terminating water use reduction mandates and allowing water agencies to set their own water use targets based upon their specific supply conditions. Recognizing persistent yet less severe drought conditions throughout California, the newly adopted emergency regulation, which is in effect through January 2017, mandates that urban water suppliers act to ensure at least a three year supply of water to their customers under drought conditions.

A thorough analysis conducted by Vallecitos' wholesaler, the San Diego County Water Authority, determined that Vallecitos has sufficient water supplies for its customers, even if drought conditions continue for the next three years.  In other words, the District won’t be subject to state-mandated water-use reductions through January 2017.  This is due largely to its customers who saved 25 percent since June 2015 and the fact that Vallecitos receives a portion of its water directly from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which is a local, drought-resilient supply. 
“Due to the exceptional conservation efforts by our customers and the foresight of the District to secure desalinated seawater, we are now able to give our customers greater flexibility when it comes to keeping trees, plants and vegetation alive,” said Vallecitos Board President, Mike Sannella. “We applaud our customers’ efforts and encourage them to continue to use water efficiently at all times.”

Conservation is still important to maintain long-term water supplies, so how can customers help?

1. Be sure to comply with the permanent water-use restrictions.  
   
   
2. When Vallecitos previously had patrols searching for water waste, most violations they saw in the community were for sprinkler runoff, which occurs when the water from the sprinklers over-sprays or drains onto hard surfaces, such as the sidewalk or gutter. To avoid these problems, periodically test run your sprinklers to check for broken or misaligned heads, broken pipes, runoff, etc. 
   
3. Report any water waste that you see in your neighborhood. Click here to make an anonymous report. 
   
4. Take advantage of the many conservation programs available, such as rebates on water-efficient appliances or having a free landscape irrigation audit to locate leaks and other water waste at your property. As landscape irrigation accounts for 50-80 percent of the water used at residential properties within the District's service area, this is usually where customers can see the largest water savings.
          
5. For conservation information and tips on how to save water, please browse through the conservation pages of our website or contact the District's Conservation Department at (760) 744-0460.