Pleasanton cuts water conservation requirements to 10%

Pleasanton’s water conservation target has been reduced to 10% based on 2013 billings in response to newly adopted statewide water conservation standards.

For more than a year, the city has imposed a 25% cutback for residents and businesses with penalties imposed for those failing to meet those requirements.

Mandatory conservation measures remain in effect to prevent water waste, though there will be no

drought surcharge assessed for the time being.

Kathleen Yurchak, Pleasanton’s director of Operations and Water Utilities, said the city retains the authority to impose with advance notice these assessments at any time should the need arise.

The City Council agreed Tuesday to modify the local drought requirements in response to Pleasanton’s successful conservation efforts, as well as the state’s statewide water conservation changes.

“We’re pleased to announce that while the mandatory drought restrictions have been relaxed, they are not entirely gone,” Yurchak said. “While this year’s rain and snow certainly helped the situation, water conservation will remain the new California norm for the time being.”

In addition to the wet winter, other factors also contributed to the city’s decision to alleviate drought restrictions, including the community’s exceptional conservation efforts and the ongoing work by the city to install purple (recycling water) pipes throughout Pleasanton.

As recycled water distribution pipes are extended, the program will eventually reduce the city’s reliance on potable supplies by 10%, Yurchak said.

“This was a team effort by mother nature, our residents, businesses and the ongoing work of city staff to construct and deploy the purple pipes project,” she added.

The council voted unanimously to adopt a Stage 1 Water Shortage policy, the guideline which differs

from the previous Stage 3 drought condition rule which has been in place. Under Stage 1, conservation targets are set at 10% water savings, as compared to 2013 usage.

Mandatory conservation measures remain in effect, including limiting landscape irrigation to the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. and no more than three nonconsecutive days per week through September.

Also watering needs to be confined to lawns or landscape and not allowed to run off onto driveways and sidewalks.

While water may be used for washing cars from a hose with a shut-off nozzle,the water should not run off into the street storm drain system.

Using drinking water to wash down driveways and sidewalks continues to be prohibited under the city’s Stage 1 water conservation policy.

For a full list of restricted water uses, sign on to the city’s Water Conservation website at

www.pleasantonwaterconservation.com/

While the short-term conservation requirements have eased, Yurchak said, the declared drought emergency for the state has not been lifted. Pleasanton remains committed to meeting the mandatory conservation goals of reducing potable

water consumption by 20% by 2020, as enacted through the Water Conservation Act of 2009.

“We have done an excellent job of conserving water when it was needed most, and our efforts paid off,” Yurchak said.

“That said,” she added, “nearly 60% of California remains in a severe drought. While this is down from over 90% last year, it’s important to recognize and pay attention to the long game and not ease up completely not knowing what we will be faced with next year.”