Ordinances

Water Contingency Plan

CVWD has adopted a Water Conservation Program

The purpose of this program is to provide water conservation regulations, in a phased approach, to minimize the effect of a shortage of water supplies on the customers of CVWD during various critical stages of a water shortage. Along with permanent water conservation requirements, CVWD’s Water Conservation Program consists of six stages, as shown in Table 8, to respond to a reduction in potable water available to CVWD for distribution to its customers with Phase 1 conservation requirements in effect at all times unless a mandatory conservation stage has been implemented by CVWD Board of Directors.

Table 8: Water Supply Shortage Stages and Conditions

Stage No.	Water Supply Conditions	% Shortage
Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”	Standard Water Conservation. FMWD can meet all Member Agency demands. Voluntary water conservation applies.	Up to 10%
Phase 2 - Color Code “Green”	Increased Water Conservation. Some supplies have been impacted, and consumers should increase efforts to conserve.	10% to 20%
Phase 3 - Color Code “Yellow”	Extraordinary Water Conservation. MWD is withdrawing water from most of its storage programs to meet demands. Extraordinary conservation is called for from consumers.	20% to 30%
Phase 4 - Color Code “Orange”	Allocation. MWD has implemented its allocation plan to its member agencies. Thus, supplies are limited.	30% to 40%
Phase 5 - Color Code “Red”	Critical. Water supplies are reduced drastically.	40% to 50%
Phase 6 - Color Code “Purple”	Emergency. Water supplies are only available for health and safety needs.	Greater than 50%

For more information, please visit our Conservation Alert page.

Prohibitions

CVWD’s Water Conservation Plan promotes the efficient use of water, reduce or eliminate water waste, complement CVWD’s Water Quality regulations and urban runoff reduction efforts, and enable implementation of CVWD’s Water Shortage Contingency Measures. Prohibitions include but are not limited to: restrictions on outdoor watering, washing of vehicles, food preparation establishments, repairing of leaks and other malfunctions, swimming pools, decorative water features, construction activities, and water service provisions, which can be found in Table 9.

Table 9: Mandatory Prohibitions

Examples of Prohibitions	Stage When Prohibition Becomes Mandatory
Hose washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, or parking areas, tennis courts, patios, porches or other paved areas shall not be permitted. Exception: Flammable or other dangerous substances may be disposed of by direct hose flushing by public safety officers for the benefit of public health and safety. Businesses or schools required to hose down public eating areas will be provided with access to a water broom.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Use of water for any purpose which results in overspray, excessive runoff onto hardscapes, driveways, streets, adjacent lands or into gutters shall not be permitted.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Water used to clean, fill or maintain levels in decorative fountains or similar structures must be part of a recirculation system.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Leaks from any facility both inside and outside of a customer’s premises must be repaired within seventy-two hours after the customer is notified of, or discovers the leak. Failure to affect the repair of any leak shall subject said customer to all penalties provided herein for waste of water.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
No watering, sprinkling or irrigating shall take place between the hours of nine a.m. (9:00AM) and five p.m. (5:00PM) in any landscaped or vegetated areas, including, but not limited to, golf courses, parks, cemeteries and school areas landscaped with, but not limited to, grass, lawn, groundcover, shrubbery, annual and perennial plants, crops, trees, and California-friendly plantings. With the exception of drip irrigation systems or weather-based irrigation controllers, residential timers shall not run for more than a total of 10 minutes per station.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Hand watering of non-turf areas is allowed using a hose with a positive shut-off nozzle or watering can within the allowable times as specified above.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
No watering, sprinkling or irrigating shall take place in any landscaped or vegetated areas on days when the wind is blowing causing overspray. No irrigation or watering of turf or ornamental-landscapes during and 48 hours following measurable precipitation.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
The washing of commercial and non-commercial privately owned automobiles, trucks, trailers, motor-homes, boats, buses, airplanes and other types of vehicles is restricted to use of a hand-held bucket and quick rinses using a hose with a positive shut-off nozzle. Exceptions: the use of wash water which is on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station; where health, safety and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleaning, such as garbage trucks and vehicles which transport food and perishables.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Owners of outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or spas, when these are not in use, are requested to use covers to minimize the evaporation of water.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Water for construction purposes including but not limited to de-brushing of vacant land, compaction of fills and pads, trench backfill and other construction uses, shall be used in an efficient manner which will not result in runoff.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
The use of potable water from fire hydrants shall be limited to firefighting related activities or other activities immediately necessary to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the city.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
No restaurant, hotel, café, cafeteria or other public place where food is sold, served or offered for sale, shall serve drinking water to any customer unless expressly requested by a customer.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments are requested to post notices informing their guests about CVWD’s water conservation policy and urging guests to conserve water. Water conservation notices will be provided by CVWD.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Hotels, motels and other commercial lodgings are requested to post notices giving their guests the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Where applicable, restaurants must utilize water conserving nozzles.	Phase 1 - Color Code “Blue”
Watering Days: Odd/Even assigned days	Phase 2 - Color Code “Green”
Watering Days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	Phase 3 - Color Code “Yellow”
Residential and commercial landscape irrigation is limited to no more than two (2) days per week on Tuesday and Saturday. Exempt are public areas owned or operated by School Districts or public use areas greater than 4,000 square feet.	Phase 4 - Color Code “Orange”
The filling, refilling or adding of water to indoor and outdoor pools, wading pools, or spas is prohibited. Exemptions: Commercial Repairs mandated by the Federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act, or adding water for the prevention of equipment failure is permissible, however, the District strongly urges that a cover be used to prevent evaporation and thereby reducing the frequency of refilling.	Phase 4 - Color Code “Orange”
The use of water to clean, maintain, fill, or refill decorative fountains or similar structures is prohibited. Exemptions: Adding water for the prevention of equipment failure is permissible.	Phase 4 - Color Code “Orange”
Vehicle washing is restricted to the use of a hand-held bucket and quick rinses using a hose with a positive shut-off nozzle.	Phase 4 - Color Code “Orange”
Fix leaks within 48 hours.	Phase 4 - Color Code “Orange”
1 day limit per week year-round irrigation.	Phase 5 - Color Code “Red”
All outdoor water use is prohibited.	Phase 6 - Color Code “Purple”
Fix any leaks within 24 hours.	Phase 6 - Color Code “Purple”