Sacramento adopts permanent limits on lawn watering
The drought may be over, but Sacramento residents will still have to limit their watering.
The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday to make permanent twice-aweek sprinkler restrictions despite Gov. Jerry Brown in April lifting a drought state of emergency for California after record-setting winter rainfall. The motion passed 6 to 3, with councilmembers Angelique Ashby, Allen Warren and Larry Carr voting no.
Sacramento’s twice weekly restrictions are perhaps the most stringent in the region. Most other cities in the area have relaxed their drought-era requirements. Folsom, for instance, allows residents to water as many days a week as they want within certain time windows. The Elk Grove Water District has removed restrictions on watering.
Many residents spoke in favor of the restrictions, but tree activists asked the council to exempt certain watering practices aimed at protecting tree health.
Councilman Jeff Harris, who backed the plan, said the new rules were part of a long-term strategy to make conservation in the capital city “a way of life.” He asked that staff include tree health language that allows more watering when necessary for ecologically important plants, keep fines static and that the changes not go into effect until 2018.
John Woodling, director of the Regional Water Authority, said in his official capacity, he’s happy to see the council be progressive on water issues. As a resident, he said he’s conditionally supportive.
“I think in addition to the ordinance and the restrictions, the council does need to commit to both the messaging and the support of the utilities staff for” education, supporting tree health and continuing to offer incentives to use less water, he said.
Under the new guidelines, sprinkler system watering is only allowed two days a week during the summer. That has been the case during and after the latest drought because the City Council imposed emergency rules under a Stage 2 water shortage.
Department of Utilities Director Bill Busath said the agency will move away from enforcement and towards education and assistance. He said the department intends to run an education campaign for residents.
The watering cutbacks don’t apply to people who water their lawns with hand-held hoses or to households that have so-called “smart controllers” that measure the moisture of the soil. Drip irrigation systems that water trees, gardens and shrubs will also be exempt.
The rules will be in effect from March through October, but are suspended during heat waves when the temperature is more than 100 degrees for two or more consecutive days.
Harris said the city offers rebates of up to $400 for buying a smart-controller.
Car washing also got a break. Residents can now wash their vehicles any day of the week, instead of just on watering days. But they can’t let the hose run — it needs to have a shut-off nozzle.