(Updated
12/17/07)
What is a water shortage?
A shortage is declared when it is
projected that our water supply may potentially not be able
to meet the water requirements of customers.
Why
is there a potential water shortage?
Due to the fact that groundwater
levels in some wells are so far below historical levels and
with anticipated reduction in the availability of water
supplied by Metropolitan Water District, PWP may not be able
to meet the future water supply demands of our customers.
Where does our water come from?
40% of PWP’s water supply is
groundwater; the other 60% is purchased from Metropolitan
Water District. MWD receives 60% of their water from the Bay
Delta area via the State Water Project, the balance comes
from the Colorado River and Los Angeles Aqueduct.
Who
decided that there is a potential water shortage?
Based upon
projections for water supply and demand, PWP asked the City
Council to declare that a water shortage exists.
How
long will it last?
We
don’t know for certain, but our best indication is that the
current water supply conditions are not a short term
problem. The environmental issues in Northern California
could impact our water supply for years to come and if we
continue in the current pattern of drought we will need to
continue to protect our water supply by conserving every
drop that we can.
Why
can’t we just get more water from other sources?
We
are exploring every potential water source available to us,
but conservation is always one of the least expensive and
quickest solutions to ensuring that our water supply will be
available when we need it.
Is
it just in Pasadena or are there other cities affected by
it?
Most or all
cities in Southern California are affected by this
situation. In fact water supply is a critical issue world
wide.
Why
haven’t Glendale, Burbank and other cities declared a water
shortage?
They have and
are asking their water customers to reduce their water
consumption by 10%. Some other cities have already
implemented mandatory water reduction plans.
If
there is a water shortage, why haven’t we done anything
about it sooner?
PWP
has long been a supporter of water conservation and has
offered customers a host of conservation resources as well
as rebate programs. But more needs to be done and we are
asking for the voluntary support from our customers to
achieve the 10% reduction in water consumption in order to
continue to ensure a reliable water supply.
What is the City and PWP doing to address the potential
water shortage?
In July, the Mayor called for a
citywide reduction in water use of at least 10%. So far
that goal has not been realized. Now Pasadena Water and
Power has asked City Council to declare that a water
shortage exists and implement Plan I of PMC Chapter 13.10.
What conservation measures does Plan I ask people to do?
There are nine conservation measures that the ordinance
outlines for water conservation, they are:
All persons and
customers of the department shall, on a voluntary basis,
reduce water usage by taking the following water
conservation measures:
A. Refrain from hosing or washing sidewalks, walkways,
driveways, parking areas or other paved surfaces;
B. Refrain from cleaning, filling, or maintaining levels in
decorative fountains, ponds, lakes, and similar structures
unless such structure is equipped with a water recycling
system;
C. Refrain from serving drinking water, unless at the
express request of a customer, in all restaurants, hotels,
cafes, cafeterias, or other public places where food is
sold, served or offered for sale;
D. Promptly repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor
plumbing fixtures, including but not limited to sprinkler
systems;
E. Refrain from allowing water to run off landscape areas
into adjoining streets, sidewalks, parking lots or alleys;
F. Refrain from allowing water to run off into adjoining
streets, sidewalks, parking lots or alleys while washing
vehicles;
G. Refrain from landscape watering more often than once
every 3 days;
H. Refrain from landscape watering between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.;
I. Refrain from filling or refilling a swimming pool. (Ord.
6289 § 1 (part), 1988: Ord. 6275 § 1 (part), 1988)
How
can I read the full text of Water Shortage Plan I? Plans II
and III?
It is posted on the PWP website
www.PasadenaSavesWater.com
Is
PWP or the City going to ration water?
If the measures in Plan I or Plan II
do not result in meeting the goal of 10% reduction in water
consumption or if Metropolitan Water District decreases
Pasadena’s allocation of purchased water then Plan III would
be implemented. Plan III would assign each customer a
specific allotment of water each month.
Will my water service be turned off?
The Pasadena
Municipal Code does allow for termination of service as a
last resort if a customer repeatedly is in violation of the
provisions in Plans II and III of the Water Shortage Plan.
How
are Plan I measures being enforced?
With
written and verbal reminders to customers of importance of
these measures that we are asking our customers to follow.
Are
the Plan I measures mandatory?
No, they are voluntary.
Will people get fined or ticketed if they don’t adhere to
Plan I measures?
No, Plan I is a voluntary plan that
does not levy fines or penalties. PWP will be sending out
reminders and conservation tips as a response as we receive
notification of non-adherence to the nine water use
restrictions.
If
we are experiencing a water shortage, why aren’t these
measures mandatory? We
believe that these measures will require some time and
change in water use habits and want to allow our water
customers time to make those changes without penalties.
What should I do if I see someone who is not adhering to the
Plan I measures?
Depending on
the circumstances you can remind or inform the person of the
Plan I measures or you can contact PWP at 626-744-8426 or
www.pasadenasaveswater.com to report the incident.
If
I see someone wasting water, should I talk to them about it,
or should I just report them to PWP?
We are encouraging our customers to
share the information regarding water saving measures with
their friends, neighbors and co-workers; however we realize
that this could potentially be a delicate subject and some
people will prefer to report these instances directly to PWP.
We have set up a hotline for this purpose and to respond to
questions regarding the water shortage at 626-744-8426. We
also have a website dedicated to water shortage inquiries
and issues at www.pasadenasaveswater.com
I’ve asked my neighbor many times to change his lawn
watering schedule and/or fix his sprinklers, but he hasn’t.
What should I do?
You can contact the PWP hotline at
626-744-8426 or www.pasadenasaveswater.com
I
know PWP has given my neighbor many reminders to fix his
sprinklers and/or refrain from watering so much, but he
still hasn’t fixed the problem. Can’t PWP do anything more?
Not
unless the City Council declares that we are in Plan II of
the Water Shortage Plan, which becomes mandatory.
I
received a notice from PWP saying that I’m not adhering to
Plan I, but it’s not true. How can I correct this?
Since Plan
I is voluntary there is no penalty associated with receiving
a reminder notice, so you do not need to respond to the
notice.
I
notified by PWP that I was not adhering to Plan I, but I’ve
since fixed the problem. How do I show that to PWP?
In Plan I,
since it is voluntary there is no penalty associated with
receiving a reminder notice, so you do not need to respond
to the notice.
Has
PWP notified building management, HOAs and
gardening/landscaping companies about Plan I?
All customers
of Pasadena Water and Power have or will be notified in
writing that Plan I is in effect.
If
gardeners are ignoring Plan I, how will PWP notify them and
get them to adhere to the plan?
Every one in the City of Pasadena is
expected to follow the measures in Plan I. If gardeners are
observed doing otherwise, they or the property owner will be
reminded by PWP staff that Plan I is in effect.
I
own/work at a restaurant and need to hose down the pavement
for health reasons. Is that ok?
Yes, you need to follow the health
codes. You might want to consider purchasing a Waterbroom.
They use up to 15 gallons per minute less water than a hose
and generally save cleaning time since they are
pressurized. PWP offers a rebate of $150 per broom, check
our website at
www.PWPweb.com for a complete list of rebates for
commercial customers.
Our
customers expect to be served water immediately, and it
looks bad if we have to be asked for that simple service.
How should our restaurant let our customers know about the
PWP’s policy?
PWP provides printed tent cards that
explain the necessity for water conservation and supports
restaurants in their effort to reduce their water
consumption.
I
can’t afford to get a plumber to fix my leaks/broken
sprinklers. Can PWP help with the cost?
PWP does not
have a program for hiring plumbers. You may be paying more
in water costs than you think – a leaky faucet or sprinkler
can waste up to 20 gallons per day.
Won’t my lawn die if I water only once every three days?
If
you follow the watering schedule of not more than every
three days, your lawn should remain healthy. Most people
over water by more than 50% and are surprised at how much
less water is needed for irrigation.
Have we ever had a water shortage before?
Yes,
the last one occurred in 1991
Is
the current situation more serious than the one that
occurred in 1991?
Yes. It
is a more difficult situation because of the legislation
affecting the Bay Delta where the majority of our purchased
water comes from. In the early 1990’s the water shortage
was due specifically to the drought and ended when the
rainfall levels returned to normal. The legislation may
impact our water supply for years to come.
Does PWP offer leak detection or water auditing services?
PWP
does offer limited auditing services upon request.
How
is PWP letting people know about Plan I and the importance
of water conservation?
We are sending
out a special mailing to every PWP water customer.
Additionally, we have posted the information on our website
www.PasadenaSavesWater.com and
www.PWPweb.com. PWP staff is meeting directly with many
of the larger commercial customers and we have printed
information available at City Hall, the Public Libraries,
Community Centers and at all Community Events that PWP
attends or sponsors.
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