Mayor asks public’s help implementing water restrictions
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Mayor Kevin Faulconer asked Tuesday for the public’s help in implementing new mandatory restrictions on water use in San Diego, which were enacted by the City Council on Monday night.
“Working together as a community, San Diego has done a tremendous job in the past in responding to the call for water conservation,” Faulconer said. “For that, we say thank you, and now we must ask for your continued help as we face the uncertainty of future rainfall and water supplies at critical levels.”
Water use restrictions had been voluntary, but the city declared a more stringent Drought Alert because of an ongoing lack of rainfall, recent hot temperatures and low reservoir levels.
The restrictions include watering lawns before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. on three assigned days per week. Residents of single-family homes at addresses ending in odd numbers can water lawns on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; while those ending in even numbers can water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Residents of apartments and condominiums, and business owners, can water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Lawns can only be watered with a timed sprinkler system or hose with a shut-off nozzle for up to 10 minutes per station through Oct. 31. Beginning Nov. 1, the time limit will be reduced to seven minutes per station.
Potted plants, home vegetable gardens and fruit trees can be irrigated before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. through Oct. 31. Starting Nov. 1, the allowable times are before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
The city is also limiting the washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers and other types of transportation equipment to before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. through Oct. 31. Beginning Nov. 1, the hours will be before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Washing of vehicles is allowed any time at a commercial car wash facility.
The restrictions also include shutting down ornamental fountains, which can only run during maintenance procedures, and not irrigating while it’s raining.
The city will permit irrigation at any time as required by a landscape permit; for erosion control; for establishment, repair or renovation of public use fields for schools and parks; or for landscape re-establishment following a disaster.
Also today, the San Diego County Water Authority announced it is offering yard signs and magnetic car decals emblazoned with a “When in Drought” logo and the phrase “I’m saving every day, every way.” Refrigerator magnets with water-saving tips are also available.
“San Diego County residents and businesses have made water conservation a way of life, and they’ve made especially big strides since 2007 by cutting per-capita water use more than 20 percent,” said Mark Weston, chairman of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. “These eye-catching `When in Drought’ items are one way we can say thank you — and an easy way for residents to show their passion for saving water while encouraging friends and neighbors to rise to the challenge.”
The items are available at the Water Authority headquarters, 4677 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa, and at upcoming San Diego County Garden Friendly Plant Fairs, which offer discounts on low-water-use plants at select Home Depot stores. The plant fair schedule and other water conservation resources can be found at WaterSmartSD.org.
The magnetic car decals will be handed out Friday at the Body Beautiful Car Wash, 2045 Pacific Highway, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The yard signs can be picked up Nov. 1 at Mission Hills Nursery, 1525 Fort Stockton Drive, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
