On May 24, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board, in response to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-7-22, adopted emergency regulations to address severe drought conditions across California. Under the regulations, the Goleta Water District (District) is required to implement certain water shortage response actions contained in its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, including asking all customers to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 20%.
In addition, Commercial, Landscape Irrigation, and Institutional customers will also be prohibited from irrigating “non-functional” turf. The State regulations define non-functional turf as turf that is ornamental and not otherwise used for human recreation purposes such as school fields, sports fields, and parks. Additional details are available on the State website.
The regulations took effect June 16, 2022.
The permanent water waste restrictions adopted by the state remain in effect, and include:
- Potable water may not be used to wash down sidewalks and driveways.
- Runoff caused by irrigation is prohibited.
- Vehicles must be washed using a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
- Decorative water features must use recirculated water.
- Outdoor irrigation is prohibited during and within 48 hours following measurable rainfall.
Goleta Water District customers are among the most water efficient in the state, with the lowest per capita usage on the South Coast. Nearly half of our customers use less than 6 HCF a month, indicating primarily indoor water use. Recognizing that the biggest opportunities for water savings are typically outdoors, you can continue to do your part by checking for and fixing leaks. Make sure irrigation timers are not set to the default setting. Seasonally adjusting your irrigation can result in considerable water savings. Visit www.waterwisesb.org for more details.
Click here for the District’s FAQ for California Emergency Drought Regulations.
