Pasadena’s Watering Rules Could Be Relaxed, 15% Water Conservation Target Could Be Lifted

The City Council on Monday will consider shifting watering rules from the current two days per summertime week to three days per summertime week and to simultaneously lift the 15 percent voluntary water-use reduction target.

The current Level 2 of the City’s Water Shortage Plan went into effect on August 16, 2021, before the state was deluged with trillions of gallons of rain from a series of atmospheric river storms.

Level 2 dictates that residents on even-numbered street addresses are limited to watering only on Mondays and Thursdays, and on odd-numbered street addresses to watering on Tuesdays and Fridays from April to October. From November to March watering is restricted to just one day per week.

On March 24, Governor Gavin Newsom eased drought conditions following recent storms which brought record precipitation to California. 

The order includes ending the statewide voluntary 15 percent water conservation target and ending the requirement that local water agencies implement Level 2 of Water Supply Shortage Plan.

“With the recent significant improvement of water supplies in the State, staff recommends scaling back drought restrictions by moving to a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage Plan and lifting the temporary 15 percent water-use reduction goal,” the staff report reads. 

“Although conditions in the State improved, it is prudent to have an ongoing water supply shortage plan in effect, as in-region groundwater shortage and reservoirs on the Colorado River system remain severely stressed, and as California is vulnerable to extreme and variable weather,” it added. 

Under Level 1 Water Supply Shortage Plan, outdoor watering is restricted to three days per week from April through October and one day per week from November through March. 

In early April, Councilmembers on the Municipal Services Committee could not agree to recommend the changes.

The Committee stalemated when Vice Mayor Felicia Williams and Councilmember Justin Jones voted for the recommendation, while Councilmembers Tyron Hampton and Jason Lyon voted against it. 

Despite the split the Committee agreed the item should go before the City Council for a final decision.