STAGE 1 WATER CONSERVATION
NON-ESSENTIAL WATER USE AND WATER WASTE RULES
All water users in the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District are required to implement the following actions to avoid water waste:
1. Waste caused by correctable leaks, breaks or malfunctions must be corrected immediately.
This loss of drinkable water may be cited as water waste after a reasonable period of time has passed in which the leak or malfunction could have been corrected. Exceptions may be granted by the General Manager for corrections which are not feasible or practical.
2. Water turf, lawns, gardens or ornamental landscaping before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. If watering between these hours, it must be done by drip irrigation or hand watering with positive-action trigger nozzles. (Exceptions are made by the General Manager for professional gardeners who must water between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.).
3. Sites that require irrigation must water on Saturdays and Wednesdays only. (Exceptions are made for professional gardeners who are on site and must not exceed two watering days per week).
4. Avoid excessive water use which allows surplus to run to waste, including the use of drinking water for washing buildings, structures, driveways, patios, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard surfaced areas, except in cases where health or safety are at risk.
5. All non-residential water users within the District must comply with Rule 143 water efficiency requirements and Rule 154 messaging requirements.
6. Drinking water must be requested by the customer at a restaurant, hotel, café, cafeteria or other public place where food is sold, served or offered for sale. Water should not be provided unless specifically requested by the customer.
7. Swimming pools or spas should not be drained or refilled except (a) to prevent or correct structural damage or to comply with public health regulations, or (b) upon prior approval of the General Manager.
8. Wash private vehicles using a trigger nozzle to reduce water use and runoff.
9. Commercial aircraft, cars, buses, boats, trailers or other commercial vehicles must be washed at a commercial or fleet vehicle or boat washing facility operated at a fixed location where equipment using water is properly maintained to avoid wasteful use.
10. Fountains, ponds, lakes or other ornamental water uses must recycle water if the water is from a potable source.
11. Water used for more than minimal landscaping, as defined in the landscaping regulations of the jurisdiction or as described in Article 10.8 of the California Government Code, is considered wasteful.
12. Commercial full service car washes must recycle at least 50 percent of the potable water used per cycle.
13. Unmetered hydrant water use by individuals, other than for fire suppression or utility system maintenance purposes, requires approval of the MPMWD General Manager.
14. Potable water must not be used for street cleaning.
15. The use of large quantities of drinking water for dust control or earth compaction requires prior written approval of the General Manager. The use of non-potable water or other methods of dust control are encouraged.
16. Water may not be transported from the Monterey Peninsula Water Resources System without prior written authorization from the MPWMD. Emergency or health related situations are exempt from this provision in accordance with Rule 168 (Water Rationing Variance).
The following activities are not considered water waste:
1. Flow resulting from fire fighting or essential inspection of fire hydrants;
2. Water applied to abate spills of flammable or otherwise hazardous materials, where water application is the appropriate methodology;
3. Water applied to prevent or abate health, safety, or accident hazards when alternate methods are not available;
4. Storm run-off;
5. Flow from fire training activities during Stage 1 Water Conservation through Stage 3 Water Conservation;
6. Reasonable quantities of water applied as dust control as required by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Agency, except when prohibited by Regulation XV.