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Source: Helix Water District
August 7, 2014 (La Mesa)--Helix Water District’s board of directors voted yesterday to put Drought Level 2 into effect in response to the State Water Resources Control Board’s passage of mandatory water conservation measures to deal with the current drought.
Since February, the district had been in Drought Level 1, which called for numerous voluntary actions to eliminate water waste. Drought Level 2 makes them mandatory. Residents and businesses are required to take the following conservation steps:
■ Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to three days per week (you can choose which days). This section shall not apply to commercial growers or nurseries.
■ Limit lawn watering and landscape irrigation using fixed-spray sprinklers to no more than 10 minutes per watering station per day. Irrigation run time shall be adjusted to avoid runoff.
This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation systems using water efficient devices, including but not limited to: weather-based controllers, drip/micro-irrigation systems, stream rotor sprinklers and rotating nozzles.
■ Eliminate runoff from irrigation systems.
■ Turn off ornamental fountains and other water features unless they recirculate water.
■ When hand-watering landscaped areas, including trees and shrubs located on residential and commercial properties, use a bucket, hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle, or low-volume non-spray irrigation. Limit hand-watering to three days per week (chosen by customer).
■ Repair all leaks within 72 hours
The district’s move to Drought Level 2 followed a similar designation by the San Diego County Water Authority July 24.
Most of the region’s residents are aware of the statewide drought and have taken some steps to reduce their water use, according to public opinion polling by the water wholesaler. Research also showed that many people think they can do more to save water in light of the drought.
“Helix customers have been doing a great job at becoming very efficient with their use of water, Helix General Manager Carlos Lugo said. “So, we know it will not be a difficult transition for them as the previously voluntary methods of water reduction change to mandatory. “And we are hoping they can be creative and find a few more ways to save in case this drought stretches into 2015.”
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought-related state of emergency Jan. 17 and asked for voluntary water conservation statewide after two consecutive dry years and the start of a third.
May 1 data from the Department of Water Resources showed snowpack water content for the northern Sierra was just 7 percent of the historical average, and the State Water Project is projected to meet just 5 percent of requested deliveries in 2014.
For additional information on the drought, visit whenindrought.org or hwd.com.
See Policies & Procedures Manual for full deatils of Drought Levels 1 & 2.
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