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Water No Water Waste Ordinance (Watering Restrictions)
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- No watering of lawns or landscapes between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on any day exception for drip irrigation, maintenance, hand watering).
- No hosing down of sidewalks, driveways, patios, alleys, parking areas or other “hardscapes.”
- No runoff is permitted from irrigation into streets, alleys, driveways, sidewalks or storm drains at any time.
- Water must not be used to fill or maintain levels in decorative
fountains, ponds, lakes or displays unless a recycling system is used.
- Swimming pools must not be filled or emptied unless it is a first
filling of a new pool, or necessary leak repair work is being performed.
- Water leaks from exterior or interior plumbing must be repaired immediately.
- No washing of vehicles of any kind except with a hand-held bucket or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle.
- Restaurants must serve water only upon request.
To report a violation, email environment@smgov.net or call 310-458-8972.
What is the Penalty for Violating this Ordinance?
A $250 fine may be imposed for the first offense. Subsequent violations receive higher fines.
How Does the City Check for Violations?
On April 1, 2003, the Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE) began enforcement of the “No Water Waste” Ordinance by patrolling the
City. Staff will try to take a photo of the violation as it is
occurring. Often times concerned residents and business owners, call
or email us to report violations. In those instances, staff will
respond as quickly as possible by visiting the site.
How Does the City Respond to Violations?
After
witnessing the violation(s), staff will send a pending violation letter
and photo, if applicable, to the water account customer listed at the
property where the violation(s) took place. The letter states the
violation(s) and actions to take to correct it/them. Informational letters are mailed to water account customers if a potential violation is reported by concerned residents, visitors or businesses.
What Do I Do if I Get a Violation Letter?
Follow
the corrective actions. When corrected, please call the staff person
that issued the letter and let him/her know that you’ve complied.
Tips For Landscaping:
Tips For Cleaning:
- Ficus Berry Cleaning
- To spot clean and deodorize paved surfaces, use a broom, a mop and
warm water in a bucket. If detergents must be used, all detergent
residue must be cleaned from surface areas by mopping with clean water.
Dispose of the mop water in the sanitary sewer. *
- For urine, use an enzymatic, biodegradable cleaner, available at local pet stores.
- For feces, pick-up safely and flush down the toilet. To clean any
residue, use an enzymatic, biodegradable cleaner, available at local
pet stores.
- For blood, carefully use a small amount of diluted bleach in a
spray bottle, mop the area and dispose of the wash water in the
sanitary sewer. *
- If you must use water for public health and safety requirements,
the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board permits the use of
devices that use 0.006 gallons per square foot. Protection of storm
drains** is required.
- Take your car to a car wash that recycles water.
- Pick up after your pets (SMMC 4.04.370-385).
For more information on proper cleaning procedures for paved
surfaces, including parking areas/structures, contact the Industrial
Waste Section at 310-458-8235, especially for businesses.
Tips For Repairing Leaks:
- Repair leaking faucets, water heaters, showers, toilets, and irrigation systems immediately.
- To check for leaks in the toilet, put a few drops of food coloring
in the tank and wait 20 minutes, if you see colored water in the bowl,
then you have got a leak.
Tips For Servicing Pools:
- Make sure you drain pool water into the sanitary sewer system (i.e. sewer clean-out)*; not the street or alley.
* The sanitary sewer system collects your household wastewater
from toilets, showers, bathtubs and sinks, and routes it through the
plumbing system into the Hyperion Treatment Plant. Sewer clean-outs are
access openings in the sewer system, located inside or outside of
dwellings, which are used by plumbers for maintenance on the sewer
lines.
**The storm drain system is intended to route rainwater
quickly off the streets during a heavy storm, but unfortunately takes
all urban runoff along with it. Chemicals, trash and debris from lawns,
parking lots and streets go straight into the ocean.
Who Do I Call If I Have Questions or To Report A Violation?
Please call 310-458-8972. After business hours, please call the Pollution Prevention Hotline at 310-458-8945.
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Last updated: Monday, 06/22/2009
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