Coachella Valley Water District's (CVWD) Board of Directors today lifted drought penalties, effective June 1, in response to the State's transition to water supply-based conservation targets.

The Board also updated its water use-restrictions to coincide with other statewide changes, saying CVWD expects customers to continue managing water wisely based on the important lessons learned during the drought emergency.

"We expect everyone to continue to be mindful of their water use and understand that water-smart behavior is now part of being a Californian," said General Manager Jim Barrett. "Even without the state mandate, conservation has always been an important tool in the long-term plan to eliminate overdraft of the Coachella Valley's aquifer."

CVWD's own Water Management Plan, a blueprint for long-term sustainability that was first adopted in 2002, calls for a 20% reduction in water use by 2020. The Urban Water Management Plan, mandated by the state to be updated this summer, also calls for 20% reduction by 2020.

Changing to a supply-based approach makes more sense to an area like the Coachella Valley that has a strong supply that isn't tied to users outside the region.

"Eliminating overdraft of the aquifer is the most critical goal for our community and if we can do that with a variety of programs and projects that don't require 36% or 32% conservation then we should have the flexibility to do that," Barrett said.

The Board also updated its water-use restrictions and extended them through January, in conjunction with the State's recent actions. CVWD will continue to enforce these rules and is required to report enforcement efforts to the state each month.

The restrictions include:

• No irrigation during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
• Broken sprinklers must be repaired within 24 hours of notification.
• Eating establishments may only serve drinking water upon request.
• Hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily. 
• Applying water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes runoff to adjacent property, roadways, parking lots, etc. is prohibited.
• Using a hose to wash an automobile, windows, solar panels, and tennis courts, except where the hose is equipped with a shut-off nozzle, is prohibited.
• Applying any water to any hard surface including, but not limited to, driveways, sidewalks, and asphalt is prohibited.
• Homeowners' associations or community service organizations cannot block, stifle, or threaten homeowners from reducing or eliminating the watering of vegetation or lawns during a declared drought emergency.

 
"We know customers have learned to use water more wisely and some have taken permanent steps to reduce water use. I expect that customers will maintain a 20% reduction, even with no mandatory reduction in place," Barrett said.

Drought penalties were put into place in July 2015, in response to the State's mandate that CVWD customers reduce water use by 36% compared to 2013. CVWD did not institute an across-the-board 36% requirement, instead tying conservation to the existing water budgets. Customers were asked to limit water use to 36% below their individual water budget or pay drought penalty rates.  Following an adjustment by the State, CVWD reduced the requirement to 32%.

Since drought penalties began, CVWD customers reduced water use an average 25% compared to the same time period in 2013. Water agencies are required to continue reporting monthly water use compared to 2013, and if reductions are not maintained the State could revert back to mandatory conservation targets.

On June 14, the Board will consider proposed domestic rate increases and changes to the water budget structure. Under the proposal, water budgets would be approximately 25% stricter than the budgets that were put into place in 2009, thereby helping promote permanent, long-term reduced water use.

CVWD invested $6.7 million in funding for conservation rebate programs this fiscal year and these programs will remain in place to help homeowners, businesses and homeowner associations reduce water use.

For a complete list of conservation programs, tips for reducing water use and all the water-use restrictions, visit www.cvwd.org/conservation.

The Coachella Valley Water District is a public agency governed by a five-member board of directors. The district provides domestic and irrigation water, agricultural drainage, wastewater treatment and reclamation services, regional storm water protection, groundwater management and water conservation. It serves approximately 108,000 residential and business customers across 1,000 square miles, located primarily in Riverside County, but also in portions of Imperial and San Diego counties.