Council Learns Scale of Water Conservation Efforts Mandated by State, Prepares for Public Hearing

On Monday night the Pasadena City Council will review a detailed briefing from Pasadena Water & Power Department General Manager Phyllis Currie discussing steps she believes the city must take to  intensify its water conservation efforts to meet the 28 percent reduction goal mandated by the State Water Board.

A public hearing has been scheduled for June 1, 2015 for the City Council to consider adopting the Level 2 Water Supply Shortage plan, which further restricts outdoor watering to two days per week from April to October and maintains the one day per week limit from November to March.

The City Council will consider other water conservation measures as well.

The public can comment and hear information about PWP’s recommendations to implement the Plan during the City Council’s meetings May 18 and June 1.

Pasadena’s Level 2 Water Shortage Plan, under City ordinance Chapter 13.10, limits outdoor watering to two days per week during spring and summer, and one day per week during fall and winter. The plan requires water leaks to be fixed within 48 hours and prohibits the filling of ornamental lakes and ponds.

“All of us know by now that California is confronting an unprecedented challenge to our water supply. The Governor and state agencies are mandating draconian water-use reductions which we will be hard-pressed to achieve,” Mayor Terry Tornek said.

“The City Council will undertake a serious dialogue with the public to discuss various methods to achieve these savings. If all of us work together to reform current practices, we can meet our goals while maintaining our quality of life,” Mayor Tornek said.

The City is required to hold a public hearing prior to the Council declaring a Level 2 shortage.

If approved, the Council will set an effective date for when the Level 2 shortage is declared. The Council approved Pasadena’s Water Waste Prohibitions and Water Supply Shortage Plan Ordinance in 2009. The City has been operating on a Level 1 declaration since July 28, 2014 that limits outdoor watering to three days in spring and summer and one day in fall and winter.

To see the report agendized for the Council’s Monday meeting, please click here.

More information on Pasadena’s water restrictions is available online at www.PWPweb.com/WaterWaste. Fines for repeat offenders can be up to $500 per violation for residential customers and up to $1,000 per violation for all non-residential accounts.