City’s Current Water Use Restrictions Will Stay in Place, Despite Recent Record Rains

The City will stay the course and stick with implementation of stricter water conservation measures under Level 2 of its Water Supply Shortage Plan.

This after the City Council on Monday voted against a recommendation that would have eased local watering restrictions.

For nearly two years, Pasadena has kept outdoor watering to two days per week from April to October and one day per week from November to March. 

It also adopted a voluntary water reduction target of 15 percent, which aligned with the state’s reduction goal. 

Recommendations to ease the City’s watering rules were raised after Governor Gavin Newsom eased drought conditions restrictions in March following recent storms which brought record precipitation to California. 

Newsom’s order lifted the statewide voluntary 15 percent water conservation target and ended the requirement that local water agencies implement Level 2 of the Water Supply Shortage Plan.

“With significantly improved water supply conditions across the State, and in consideration of remaining water supply challenges facing the Colorado River system and local groundwater basins, staff recommends a moderate easing of irrigation restrictions by adopting the Level 1 Water Supply Shortage effective April 17, 2023,” Pasadena’s staff report on the Agenda item reads. 

“Consistent with State actions, staff also recommends lifting the 15 percent voluntary water reduction target. While improved supply conditions allow for lifting these temporary targets that help meet the increased need to conserve water in severe drought conditions, a continued foundation of water-use efficiency is essential for long- term water resilience,” 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. 

“I won’t be able to support this,” Councilmember Tyron Hampton said during Monday’s Council meeting.

While there were rains recently, he pointed out that the City should let the residents know that “we live in a desert” and “water is the most precious resource that we have.”

“Going back and forth is extremely confusing and bad messaging,” Hampton added.

“Having a policy that is so reactive to the moment, I think, is wrong-headed,” Councilmember Jason Lyon said. “We had a wet year. We might have another one, we might not. We might have a wet summer, we might have a really dry summer. We should be conserving water. That’s the bottom line. And so I also cannot support this.”

Aside from voting to continue the implementation of a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage Plan, the Councilmembers also agreed to maintain the 15 percent water conservation target.

They also instructed the City staff to continue to educate residents on how to care for trees and refer the Water Supply Shortage Plan to the Municipal Services Committee in the future for review and amendments if necessary.

All Councilmembers voted for a motion  against the staff recommendation, except for Steve Madison who abstained from the voting.