Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
EMWD is currently in Stage 1: Supply Watch
Overview
In accordance with Water Code 10632 requirements, EMWD is responsible for conserving the available water supply, protecting the integrity of water supply facilities, and implementing a contingency plan in times of drought, supply reductions, failure of water distribution systems, or emergencies.
Therefore, EMWD adopted the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) to regulate the delivery and consumption of water use during water shortages. EMWD’s Board of Directors has the authority to initiate or terminate the water shortage contingency measures described in the WSCP.
To view the WSCP in its entirety, please see Title 5, Article 10 of the EMWD Administrative Code.
Implementation
EMWD will implement an appropriate stage based on current water conditions such as:
- EMWD water supply conditions and storage levels
- Statewide water supply conditions
- Local water supply and demand conditions
- The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Water Supply Allocation Plan implementation or other actions requiring a reduction in water demand
- Actions by surrounding agencies
Higher stages will be implemented as shortages continue and/or if customer response does not bring about desired water savings. Restrictions, penalties and enforcement will build on each other as higher stages are implemented.
Stage 1: Supply Watch
Voluntary reduction of up to 10 percent encouraged through the on-going enforcement of water use efficiency requirements, EMWD’s water budget-based tiered rates, and penalties for run off.
Stage 2: Supply Alert
Voluntary reduction of up to 25 percent encouraged through the on-going enforcement of water use efficiency requirements, EMWD’s water budget-based tiered rates, and penalties for run off. Required customer actions include:
- Reduce watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated areas with sprinklers by one day a week.
- All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system repaired within seventy-two hours.
- Refrain from filling or re-filling of ornamental lakes or ponds.
- Refrain from using potable water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to, any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not.
Stage 3: Mandatory Waste Reduction
Mandatory reduction of excessive water use enforced through changes to EMWD’s water budget-based tiered rate structure and observation-based penalties for violations of the water use efficiency requirements.
Changes to the tiered rate structure will be set according to one of the following levels:
- Stage 3a: No variances or adjustments will be allowed for filling swimming pools, establishing new landscapes or leaks that are not repaired within 48 hours.
- Stage 3b: Tier 3 (Excessive) use water budgets will be decreased by 50 percent.
- Stage 3c: Tier 3 (Excessive) use water budgets are eliminated.
Stage 4: Mandatory Outdoor Reduction
Mandatory reduction of outdoor water use enforced through changes to EMWD’s water-budget based tiered rate structure and observation-based penalties will be increased for violations of the water use efficiency requirements. In addition, watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with sprinklers should be limited to the following schedule:
- June through August – A maximum of two days a week
- September through May – A maximum of one day a week
Changes to the tiered rate structure will be set according to one of the following levels:
- Stage 4a: Tier 2 (Outdoor Use) water budgets will be decreased by 10 percent.
- Stage 4b: Tier 2 (Outdoor Use) water budgets will be decreased up to 50 percent.
- Stage 4c: Tier 2 (Outdoor Use) water budgets will be decreased up to 100 percent.
Stage 5: Mandatory Indoor Reduction
This stage would only be implemented in response to a catastrophic loss of supplies requiring a 50 percent or more reduction in total demand.
Mandatory reduction of indoor water use enforced though changes to EMWD’s water budget based tiered rate structure and increased penalties for run off, as described by EMWD’s water use efficiency requirements.
Changes to the tiered rate structure will be set according to one of the following levels:
- Stage 5a: Tier 1 (Indoor Use) water budgets will be decreased by 10 percent.
- Stage 5b: Tier 1 (Indoor Use) water budgets will be decreased by 30 percent.
- Stage 5c: Tier 1 (Indoor Use) water budgets will be decreased by 50 percent.
Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Agricultural customers and any other customer without a water budget will be given a water budget based on historical water use. Allocations will be decreased according to the percentages listed in stages 5a-5c, and the current Tier 4 rate will be applied to any use above the decreased allocation.
Business Customers
State Ban on Nonfunctional Turf Irrigation: How it Applies to You
Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) is committed to working with our Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) customers to help them achieve their corporate sustainability goals and reach compliance with statewide regulations on outdoor irrigation of nonfunctional turf. EMWD offers a variety of customer-focused programs such as rebate opportunities, technical resources, and educational information to help your organization reduce its water footprint and do its part to help California stretch its water supply resources.
- State Ban on Irrigation Fact Sheet for CII Customers
- Notify Your Staff Template for CII Business Use
- State Water Resources Control Board HOA Letter
- CII Nonfunctional Turf Watering Ban Budget Adjustment Letter Notification
- HOA Drought Compliance Workshop Presentation November 2, 2022
- HOA Drought Compliance Workshop Presentation Audio - November 2, 2022
- Read more
- California Drought Conditions
- Drought Update and CII Customer Workshop
- Press Release CII Workshop and Reference Material
- Irrigation Ban Waiver Request
California’s Water Supply Conditions
EMWD Has You Covered
With California continually facing extreme weather conditions that result in either prolonged dry conditions or periods of significant rainfall, EMWD has you covered with the latest on the statewide and local water supply conditions and regulations.
- Water Supply Information and Water Wise Toolkit Packet
- Read more
- Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) customers State Ban on Nonfunctional Turf Irrigation
- Water Budget Variances
- Medical Documentation Request Form
- Variance Request Form - Online
- Report Water Waste Form
- Water Supply Information and Conservation Toolkit Packet
EMWD Water Shortage Response Grid
Currently in Stage 1: Supply Watch as of April 2023
Stage |
Status |
Description |
Water Budgets |
---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 |
Supply Watch |
Voluntary Reduction of water use up to 10% |