Santa Barbara residents will only be able to water between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., according to new water restrictions going before the City Council on Tuesday.
The city staff is recommending a implementing a “Stage Two Water Shortage Alert” to help conserve water.
“Statewide, over 95 percent of the state is classified as experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions,” wrote Joshua Haggmark, the city’s water resources manager, in staff report for the meeting. “In response, Governor Newsom has issued a series of proclamations and executive orders, and is asking California residents to voluntarily reduce water use by 15%.”
In addition, the city plans to pay consultant group Katz & Associates $200,000 for a public education campaign to let people know about the water rules and requirements.
The city staff recommendations include: Using a shut-off nozzle when using water through a hose or outdoor water faucet, including vehicle or boat washing; not hosing down hard surfaces such as sidewalks and patios with potable water, with exceptions for preventative maintenance and health and safety; and irrigating using an automatically or manually controlled in-ground irrigation system only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Santa Barbara’s water supply challenges are not as serious as the rest of the state’s.
The city’s water demands can be met for at least the next two years, using a combination of supplies from its “diverse water supply portfolio,” even if the next two winters are dry.
The city’s water supplies include carryover water from Lake Cachuma, Mission Tunnel infiltration, desalination, groundwater, imported water from the State Water Project (SWP), and recycled water, according to the city.
“Santa Barbara water customers have truly invested in a ‘conservation as a way of life’ approach to water use,” Haggmark wrote in the staff report.
The city’s current water demands are 25% less than in 2013.
“This commendable level of water conservation, in conjunction with the operation of the desal plant, has allowed the city to bank water in Lake Cachuma,” Haggmark said. “As a result, the city is currently in a relatively secure water supply position, despite ongoing dry conditions.”
Still, Santa Barbara officials are encouraging more conservation through education, and not enforcement.
“The messaging is especially sensitive for the city, since it is not currently in a water supply shortage, but wishes to implement the demand reduction actions in response to the governor’s (executive order) and the water board’s regulations,” Haggmark said.
The public outreach campaign will focus on demand reduction actions, consistent messaging, and informational materials. In addition, the city is expanding its water conservation rebate program.
Santa Barbara currently offers water conservation rebates to customers for Flume smart home water monitoring devices, landscape mulch, high-efficiency clothes washers, and custom rebates for water-intensive commercial, industrial, and institutional customers.
The more than 1,500 residents who participated in the program saved the city about 2,000 acre-feet of water. The total budget for the current program is $72,000.
Under the proposed new program, the city wants to add another $50,000 to expand the rebate program to residential and commercial customers using potable water for irrigation.
“The revamped landscape rebate program will reimburse customers up to a certain amount for converting their high-water use lawns to water-wise landscapes and irrigation systems,” Haggmark said.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
