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New FPUD drought plan limits growth - District asks for 10-percent voluntary cutbacks

FALLBROOK — The Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD) updated its drought plan and the board of directors approved it at the June 30 board meeting.

The new policy streamlined the previous drought plan from six levels down to four. That plan was developed during the last drought in 1991 and it was time for an update, since California has changed considerably since then and because 2008 has been declared a critically dry year.

The new plan is based on the model derived by the San Diego County Water Authority. It has a few exceptions, however. FPUD’s new plan limits growth earlier in the process than proposed by the County Water Authority.

Currently, FPUD is in a level-one conservation alert, known as a “drought watch.” At this level, customers are asked to voluntarily cut back 10 percent of their water usage. Under this stage, FPUD will not consider any new annexations into the district’s service area.

This voluntary stage comes before mandatory restrictions are required. For example, this stage asks customers to water only before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m., fix leaks and refrain from watering down concrete surfaces.

In a level-two conservation alert, known as a “drought alert,” customers are required to make further cutbacks, up to 20 percent. Under this stage, FPUD will not issue any new water meters within the district’s service area.

Level two requires customers, for example, during the months of June through October, to limit landscape irrigation to no more than 10 minutes three days per week, which will be assigned on a schedule established by the district.

In a level-three conservation alert, known as a “drought critical,” customers are required to cut back by up to 40 percent.

At this stage, customers must comply with all conservation practices in levels one and two and, in addition, landscape watering will be limited to no more than two days per week, which will be assigned on a schedule by the district. Customers must also refrain from washing vehicles on their property unless they have a high-pressure, low-volume wash system.

In a level-four conservation alert, known as a “drought emergency,” customers are required to follow all the mandatory conservation measures from levels one, two and three.

Level four would only be used in emergencies, such as a pipeline break or earthquake. At this stage, all landscape irrigation must stop, except for crops and landscape products of commercial growers and nurseries.

FPUD water use regulations

Under normal conditions and during drought levels one, two, three and four, the following restrictions always apply:

• Do not wash down paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or patios, except when it is necessary for safety or sanitation hazards.

• Eliminate water waste resulting from inefficient irrigation, such as runoff or overspray. Similarly, stop water flows onto non-targeted properties such as roadways.

• Irrigate residential and commercial landscape before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only.

• Use a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle or bucket to water landscaped areas, including trees and shrubs on residential and commercial properties that are not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system.

• Irrigate nursery and commercial growers’ products before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only. Watering is permitted at any time with a hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle or a bucket. Irrigation of nursery propagation beds and watering of livestock is permitted at any time.

• Ornamental fountains may only be operated if they re-circulate their water.

• Wash vehicles using a bucket and hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle or high-pressure, low-volume wash system, or at a commercial site that re-circulates its water onsite. Avoid washing during hot conditions due to excessive evaporation.

• Restaurants should only serve and refill water to customers when specifically requested.

• Hotels and motels should offer guests the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.

• Repair all leaks with five days of notification by FPUD, unless other arrangements are made with the general manager.

• Use recycled or non-potable water for construction purposes when available.

“I have declared a level-one water alert, and these 11 measures are voluntary, but these are all common-sense things we should all be doing all the time anyway,” said FPUD General Manager Keith Lewinger.

“This alert has the added impact of stopping any new annexations into our district, which means FPUD is serious about saving water,” Lewinger added. “With the continuing dry conditions, I just cannot see how we are going to meet all our water demands without all our customers conserving at least 10 percent.”

Submitted by Fallbrook Public Utility District.

 

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