A. A level 1 water supply shortage exists when the city determines, in its sole discretion, that due to drought or other water supply reductions, a water supply shortage exists and a consumer demand reduction of ten percent is necessary to ensure sufficient supplies will be available to meet anticipated demands. Upon declaration by the city of a level 1 water supply shortage, the city will implement the mandatory level 1 conservation measures identified in this chapter.
B. The city may use the following criteria, as well as any other reliable information, date, or indices which would indicate the existence of a city or regional water shortage, to anticipate and implement the provisions within this chapter for a level 1 water supply shortage:
1. Reduction by the Metropolitan Water District of ten percent of imported water deliveries to its member agencies;
2. Reduction by the Central Basin Municipal Water District of ten percent of imported water deliveries to member agencies;
3. Over three years of drought, as defined by the National Weather Service, exists within the Los Angeles County Central Basin of the Colorado River Basin of the State of California.
C. Additional Water Conservation Measures. In addition to the prohibited uses of water in Section 13.03.040 - Permanent Restrictions, the following water conservation requirements apply during a declared level 1 water supply shortage:
1. Limits on Watering Days. Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to the following three days per week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation systems that exclusively use very-low flow drip type irrigation systems if no emitter produces more than one gallon of water per hour. Automated landscape irrigation systems may only be operated on other days for very short periods of time, such as ten minutes, or as reasonably required for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing a landscape irrigation system.
2. 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 hours of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city.
3. Limits on Filling Ornamental Lakes or Ponds. Filling or re-filling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited, except to the extent necessary to sustain aquatic life that has been actively managed or cared for within the ornamental lake or pond, prior to the city declaring a supply shortage level pursuant to this chapter.
4. Other Prohibited Uses. The city may implement other prohibited water uses as determined by the city after providing notice to the city's water customers.
D. Exemptions to Level 1 Shortage Restrictions:
1. Watering with a hand-held hose or a refillable watering vessel, such as a bucket or a tree irrigator is allowed at any time on any day of the week.
2. Drip irrigation systems with emitters of less than two gallons per hour capacity are exempt from duration and day of week restrictions due to increased efficiency.
3. Soaker hoses or automatic tree bubblers may be used to water trees so long as watering is done under the drip-line of the tree canopy.
4. Watering a vegetable garden with a soaker hose is exempt from the watering limitations.
(Ord. 2015-09-1478 § 3 (part); Ord. 2009-04-1399 § 1 (part))