On May 5, 2015, the California State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency regulations to implement Governor Jerry Brown’s April 1, 2015, executive order. That order required a 25 percent reduction in the use of potable water statewide through February 28, 2016. The regulations become effective on June 1, 2015, and last until February 28, 2016.
In an attempt to achieve the required reductions, the regulations include end-user requirements that apply to residential water users and businesses with separate requirements for public water suppliers. On May 7, 2015, the State Water Board’s regulations were also adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission for application to investor-owned water utilities and their customers. The California Building Standards Commission and Department of Housing and Community Development are expected to adopt emergency regulations by June 1, 2015, concerning irrigation systems for new housing developments.
End-User Requirements
The adopted regulations include prohibitions on various activities except where necessary to address an immediate health and safety need or to comply with the terms or conditions of state and federal permits.
The regulations prohibit residential end users from doing the following:
- Allowing runoff into streets and sidewalks.
- Using a hose to wash cars and other vehicles unless the hose has a shut-off valve.
- Using potable water to wash down sidewalks and driveways.
- Using potable water in decorative fountains that do not recirculate the water.
- Irrigating within 48 hours of measurable rainfall.
- Irrigating ornamental turf on street medians with potable water.
The regulations require the following for businesses:
- Developers: Outdoor irrigation systems for new residential and commercial developments that use potable water must comply with requirements established by the California Building Standards Commission and Department of Housing and Community Development.
- Restaurants: May not provide water to customers unless they request it.
- Hotels and motels: Must provide guests the option of not having towels and linens laundered daily.
- Commercial and industrial properties not served by a water supplier (e.g., those that pump their own water): Must either limit outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf with potable water to no more than two days per week or reduce water usage by 25 percent between June 2015 and February 2016.
A violation of any of these measures can result in fines by the State Water Board of up to $500 per day, in addition to any other applicable fines.
Requirements for Water Suppliers
The regulations require water suppliers to:
- Prepare and submit written reports to the State Water Board by the fifteenth of each month. The reports must include information about customer and water usage and require a comparison of the public water supplier’s total use for the month compared with the same month in 2013.
- Promptly notify customers of leaks in portions of the water system under the customer’s control.
Water suppliers serving more than 3,000 service connections must reduce monthly potable water usage by an amount assigned within a system of eight tiers, which includes reduction requirements that range from 4 percent to 36 percent per month. Water suppliers serving fewer than 3,000 service connections must either reduce water usage by 25 percent or restrict outdoor irrigation to no more than two days per week. These reductions are based on water usage as of 2013 (which may complicate new developments that increase water usage).
Failure to reach set reduction targets or other violations can result in a variety of enforcement actions by the State Water Board against water suppliers from informational orders to cease and desist orders. Violations of cease and desist orders are subject to civil liability of up to $10,000 per day of violation.
Next Steps
The regulations leave a great deal of discretion to water suppliers to figure out how to achieve the required reductions. Given the deadlines in the State Water Board’s regulations, water suppliers are expected to take action in short order. In addition, the State Water Board will be working with water suppliers on how to implement Provision 8 of the governor’s executive order, which encourages water suppliers to implement water rate structures that promote conservation. That task became more complex, however, with the recent appellate court decision striking down a tiered rate system.
If you have any questions about the State Water Board’s regulations, please feel free to contact Ed Casey, Andrew Brady or one of the attorneys in Alston & Bird’s Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources Group.
This advisory is published by Alston & Bird LLP’s Environmental practice area to provide a summary of significant developments to our clients and friends. It is intended to be informational and does not constitute legal advice regarding any specific situation. This material may also be considered attorney advertising under court rules of certain jurisdictions.