Water Conservation Plan

Current Water Regulations

Municipal Code 13.20.020 Prohibitions and limitations 

A.    No customer or person shall waste water. For the purposes of this chapter, “waste” means:

1.     Use of water for decorative fountains where the water is not recirculated;

2.     Washing cars, boats, trailers, aircraft or other vehicles by hose without a shutoff nozzle except commercial or fleet vehicle washing facilities operated at fixed locations;

3.     Watering lawns or gardens in a manner which result in runoff in gutter or other waterway, or excessive overspray of patio, driveway, walk, or street;

4.     Withdrawing water from fire hydrants, except for fire fighting, fire fighting training, and water system maintenance purposes;

5.     Use of water for cleaning streets during or following construction activities; flushing storm drains; and flow testing for fire sprinkler design except as approved by the Town Engineer;

6.     Use of water for grading, dust control, street, pipeline, or similar construction. Only reclaimed water may be used for the foregoing activities except as allowed by the Town Engineer.

B.     In emergency situations only, water for hauling may be supplied at a Town designated location upon prior approval from the Town Engineer. Tanker trucks hauling for domestic use must be certified to carry potable water. Hauled water may be supplied to existing customers only.

C.     All projects for which the Planning Department requires approved landscape plans must adhere to the Town’s Water Efficient Landscape Standards in order to obtain plan approval.

D.    Draining and refilling of swimming pools shall be permitted only as needed for the purpose of pool repair or to correct a severe chemical imbalance. Draining and refilling of decorative ponds and lakes shall be permitted only as needed for the purpose of lining the bottom to prevent absorption.

E.     Residential customers shall use no more than 164,250 gallons of water per year.

F.     Commercial or industrial customers shall use no more water per year than the amount set by resolution of the Town Council, which shall be published and/or posted in the same manner as ordinances, distributed in a manner designed to give notice to commercial and industrial customers, and available upon request.

G.    Within 48 hours of notification by the Town, all leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in a customer’s or person’s plumbing or distribution system shall be repaired or an agreement shall be entered into with the Town to do so. (Ord. 284-98; Ord. 318-01; Ord. 22-505)

Turf Replacement Program (Cash for Grass)

View the Turf Replacement Program (Cash for Grass) (PDF).

Eye on Water

Keep track of your water use with Eye on Water. It is free to register and it will help you know if there are leaks in your home. Visit Eye on Water and register your free account today. Sign up for instructions!

Saving Water (Indoors)

• Take 5 minute showers.
• Purchase a low flow shower head.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Fix all leaky faucets.
• Check your toilet for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring into the tank and wait 30 minutes. If the food coloring seeps into the bowl, you have a leak.
• Wash only full loads in the washing machine.
• Wash only full loads in the dishwasher.
• Capture tap water. While you wait for water to get hot in the shower or sink, catch the flow in a bucket or bowl and use this water for your house plants or garden.
• Avoid taking baths. If you must fill your bathtub, try to fill it only halfway. A full bathtub uses 36 gallons of water.
• Replace fixtures. Old fixtures tend to be inefficient. There is a good chance you can save water by replacing old fixtures.

Saving Water (Outdoors)

• If rain is in the forecast, turn off sprinklers two days before the rain and keep them turned off for at least 48 hours after rain has stopped.
• Check your irrigation system. Repair leaks, replace damaged sprinkler heads, and adjust sprinklers to avoid over-spray.
• Do not hose down driveways, patios, stairs, or walkways. Use a broom or blower instead.
• Don't leave the hose running while washing your car. Use a nozzle with an automatic shut off and a sponge and pail of soapy water.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Two inches of mulch will help hold the moisture in the ground and cool the root systems. Leave a six inch space between mulch and plant.
• Set your lawn mower blades higher. Set a blade heights at 2 or 3 inches. Longer grass blades will reduce evaporation and shade the roots.
• Step on your grass and see if it springs back when you lift your foot. If the grass springs back, no need to water today.
• Use a pool cover for your swimming pool. This can reduce evaporation.
• Install a drip irrigation system. A low-volume water irrigation system uses less water.
• In the winter, water your landscape only one day a week.
• Retrofit your garden with drought-resistant plants or permeable landscapes. A great way to save money retrofitting your garden is with the Town's Cash for Grass program. View the attached information to find out more.

Ordinance & Updates

In the following you will find the water restriction ordinance as well as all the Water Conservation presentations up to date showing the situation the Town is currently facing:

• Ordinance Number 21-500 (PDF)
• Drought Conservation Emergency Regulation (PDF)