This came over the transom from the City of Anaheim last night:
ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES WATER USE RESTRICTION MEASURES
ANAHEIM, Calif. (August 12, 2014) – The Anaheim City Council tonight approved a resolution to implement four mandatory water conservation measures, in compliance with the State Water Resources Control Board’s emergency drought regulations. With a focus on outdoor water conservation, the following actions are now prohibited:
• Watering of outdoor landscapes or turf that cause excess runoff
• Using a hose to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shutoff nozzle
• Washing down driveways and sidewalks with potable water except to address an immediate health and safety need
• Using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is re-circulated
In addition, Anaheim added two other mandates to achieve additional water savings:
• Landscape irrigation is limited to before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporative water waste, except spot watering with a hose and nozzle, or as necessary for irrigation system maintenance and repairs
• The elimination of fire hydrant flushing for City hydrants, unless the discharged water is captured/reused; or the flushing is needed for immediate public health and safety reasons; or to ensure compliance with drinking water standards
Anaheim will continue to focus on education and community outreach in order to achieve water savings. A public service campaign, aimed at reducing water usage, has encouraged the community to do their part to save water. Conservation has helped to reduce per person water use over the past decade in Anaheim by 22 percent from a peak of 114 gallons per day to currently 93 gallons per day, even though the number of residential customers has increased by 5 percent.
Another indicator of the community’s commitment to saving water is the Turf Removal Program, which has seen a significant increase in the number of applications. Since January of this year, 90 applications have been received for the program, which was recently increased to a rebate of $3 per square foot of turf removed and replaced with California Friendly landscaping or artificial turf. In addition, Anaheim Public Utilities offers a number of other incentives that will help customers save water inside and outside the home or office.
“We would like to do our part to respond to the ongoing drought, and the Utility provides ways for everyone to contribute and make an investment to preserve our future water supplies,” said Dukku Lee, Anaheim Public Utilities General Manager. “We encourage everyone to work together as a community to help eliminate water waste in Anaheim.”
For more information on saving water or program details, visit www.anaheim.net/savewater.
