CVWD has Ordinance 47: Encouraging Water Use Efficiency in place to encourage customers to utilize the following Best Management Practices to conserve water.
- No hosing of paved surfaces.
- Use a shutoff hose nozzle on all hoses.
- If decorative fountains are used, they must have a recirculating water system.
- Repair all leaks immediately.
- Ensure there is no sprinkler overspray or runoff.
Ordinance 47 is considered Stage 1 of Ordinance 48: A Water Supply Shortage Contingency Plan. Both Ordinances establish specific ways customers are required to conserve water in times of a water shortage.
"CVWD has had Ordinance 47 on the books since 2009 and we are pleased with our customers response," commented CVWD Board President Oscar Gonzalez. "We appreciate customer efforts to be good water stewards and encourage customers to continue being diligent in their water saving efforts."
The State Water Resource Control Board's recent actions include the possibility of high dollar fines for customers who are wasting water.
"CVWD's goal in having Ordinance 47 in place is to eliminate wasteful use of water, not to fine our customers," commented Carrie Corder, CFO of CVWD. "At this time, CVWD is not instituting specific penalties for water waste, but that may change depending on how our customers respond to our conservation requests."
Customers can take actions inside their homes as well, to help save water. Simple tasks such as shaving a minute off your shower time, not filling your bathtub as full, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, and only running full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer can save a lot of water in the long run.
In the midst of a severe drought, CVWD customers should make water use efficiency a regular practice. During the warmest months of the year, customers must pull together to save our most precious resource.