HomeMy WebLinkAbout88-75 - Voluntary Water Conservation ProgramRESOLUTION NO. 88 -75
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH ESTABLISHING A VOLUNTARY
WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach is a water district empowered to
provide water service within district boundaries; and
WHEREAS, because of inadequate rainfall, the State Department of
Water Resources declared 1987 to be a dry year, and 1988 a critically dry year,
and only the existence of water in storage has prevented the declaration of a
drought year, which may nevertheless be subsequently declared if stored
water falls below a critical level; and
WHEREAS, precipitation for the current water year has been substan-
tially below normal, particularly in the watersheds of the imported water
supplies serving Southern California, and many communities in the State
will suffer water shortages, and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of California has asked all
Californians to conserve water on a voluntary basis; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan 'Water District of Southern
California (MWD), which supplies all of Newport Beach's water, in recogni-
tion of the critical water conditions existing in the State, is considering cur-
tailment of agricultural water deliveries in '1989; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the critical water conditions existing in
the State, MWD's Board of Directors approved a Resolution on the California
Drought (Resolution) on May 9, 1988; and
WHEREAS, the Resolution requests every water supplier in MWD's
service area to alert its customers to the necessity and means of saving water
and to carefully monitor water uses to prevent waste; and
WHEREAS, the Resolution further requests every water supplier in
MWD's service area to develop and implement specific water conservation
measures with a goal of reducing water use by 10 percent; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach is a water supplier in MWD's
service area; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach has the power and authority to
adopt water conservation measures within its boundaries;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Utilities Director is
authorized to implement a voluntary drought conservation program, with a
goal of reducing water use by 10 percent, to reduce the risk and severity of
water shortages should the drought continue in 1989; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Newport Beach will:
1. Audit its landscape irrigation systems to maximize
irrigation efficiency; adjust sprinklers and irrigation
systems to avoid overspray, runoff, and waste;
2. Not irrigate its landscape during the hot hours of the day
and /or during the morning and evening peak hours, and
avoid watering on windy days;
3. Shut off decorative fountains unless a water recycling
system is used;
4. Not hose down driveways, sidewalks, and other paved
surfaces, except for health or sanitary reasons;
5. Retrofit plumbing fixtures with low -flow devices except
for those fixtures that require high -flow fixtures for health
and sanitary reasons;
6. Check faucets, toilets, and pipes, both indoor and outdoor,
for leaks and repair them immediately.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Newport Beach urges its water
customers to:
1. Adjust sprinklers and irrigations systems to avoid
overspray, runoff, and waste;
2. Avoid watering in the hot part of the day and /or during
morning and evening peak hours, and avoid watering on
windy days;
3. Install new landscaping, low- water - using -trees and
plants and efficient irrigation systems;
4. Shut off decorative fountains unless a water recycling
system is used;
5. Not hose down driveways, sidewalks, and other paved
surfaces, except for health or sanitary reasons;
6. Install pool and spa covers to minimize water loss due to
evaporation;
7. Not allow the hose to run while washing the car, and to
use a bucket or hose with an automatic cutoff valve;
8. Retrofit indoor plumbing fixtures with low flow devices;
9. Check faucets, toilets, and pipes, both indoor and outdoor,
for leaks and repair immediately.
10. Restaurants will serve water on an "on request" basis.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Newport Beach finds that
a phased program beginning with voluntary measures to reduce consump-
tion will best achieve the goal of conserving the water supply without caus-
ing unnecessary adverse economic consequences; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if voluntary measures do not
achieve the goal of a 10 percent reduction in water use, or if a drought condi-
tion is declared by the State of California, the City of Newport Beach will con-
sider the adoption of a mandatory water conservation program. The staff are
directed to prepare such a program for the City Council for consideration.
ADOPTED this 11th day of Jul;
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