Basics of Drought Response Policies and Procedures
Drought Response Policies and Procedures are detailed in Article 17 of the District's Administrative Code.
The District declared a Drought Response Level 2 Condition, which institutes mandatory water-use restrictions for the District's residential and business customers, beginning July 1, 2009.
Mandatory Requirements
Level 2 mandatory water-use restrictions include:
- All voluntary conservation measures included in Level 1, declared by the General Manager on Oct. 16, 2008.
- Do not wash down paved surfaces unless required for safety or sanitation.
- Use positive shut-off nozzles on hoses or use buckets when hand-watering plants.
- Residential and commercial landscape irrigation is limited to no more than three days a week, before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
- Addresses ending with even numbers are allowed to irrigate Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.
- Addresses ending with odd numbers are allowed to irrigate Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
- Apartments, condominiums and business are allowed to irrigate Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
- Nursery and commercial growers may water their products before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only. Watering is permitted at any time with a bucket, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle, or when a drip/micro-irrigation system/equipment is used. Irrigation of nursery propagation beds is permitted at any time.
- Stop water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation, such as runoff, low head drainage, or overspray.
- Repair all leaks within 72 hours of notification by the District.
- Use recycled or non-potable water for construction purposes when available.
- Watering of livestock is permitted at any time.
Level 2 declaration does not implement water allocations or restrict the issuance of new potable-water service meters at this time.
Enforcement
District customers may report non-compliance to the SFID Water Conservation Hotline, (858) 227-5801.
If District employees observe non-compliance, they may leave a doorhanger on the customer’s door and initiate a formal notification under the District's Drought Response Policies & Procedures.
Violations and Penalties
Anyone found in violation of the mandatory water conservation measures will, for the first violation, receive a letter from the District notifying the customer of the violation and be given a copy of the Drought Response Policies and Procedures.
Second violation: $100 administrative fine
Third violation: $200 administrative fine
Each additional violation within a one-year period: $500 administrative fine
For additional information, see Article 17, Drought Response Policies and Procedures.
Variances
If you think that you should be exempt from any of the mandatory use restrictions, you must demonstrate undue hardship by completing a Hardship Variance Form.