The following water conservation requirements shall be in effect at all times regardless of whether any declared water shortage is in effect, and are permanent and mandatory.

They are necessary to conserve water, enable effective water supply planning, assure reasonable and beneficial use of water, and prevent waste or unreasonable use of water. Violations will be considered a waste and unreasonable use of water and are subject to penalties as provided in Section 6.4 of this WSCP and by other applicable law.

a.) Runoff and Ponding – No person shall cause or permit any District-supplied water furnished to any property to flow from any hose, pipe, valve, faucet, sprinkler, or irrigation device for a distance of 50 feet or greater if such flow can reasonably be prevented. No person shall allow water to pond greater than 0.25 inch in a street, parking area, or on other impervious surfaces.

b.) No Overfilling of Swimming Pools and Spas – Overfilling of swimming pools and spas such that overflow water is discharged onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch is prohibited.

c.) Pools and Spas – Covers are required on pools and spas to reduce evaporation during the hours that the pool or spa is closed.

d.) Leaks – No person shall permit leaks of water that he/she has the authority to eliminate Repair or prevention of all water leaks shall be carried out within five days of discovery by the customer or notification by the District.

e.) Washing Hard Surface Areas – Washing down hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or garages, is prohibited unless the hose is equipped with a functioning automatic shut-off device.

f.) Vehicle Washing – A hose used to wash commercial and noncommercial vehicles, boats, trailers and other types of vehicles is required to have a functioning automatic shut-off device.

g.) Hose Equipped with Irrigation Device – A hose connected to an irrigation device, g., landscape sprinkler, must be equipped with a timer that will automatically shut-off the water supply after a set amount of time. Timers may not be set for more than two hours.

h.) Landscape Irrigation– Permitted Hours and Permitted Days of Week – The watering of vegetation outside of any building is permitted between the hours of 1:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and between 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. No irrigation is permitted between 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Customers with even numbered addresses are permitted to water outside vegetation only on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Customers with odd numbered addresses are permitted to water outside vegetation only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Customers with a District approved irrigation plan and irrigation meter who do not exceed 100% of the District Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) shall not be subject to the day of week requirements, but shall comply with the time of day prohibitions.

i.) Additional Irrigation Requirements – No person shall cause or permit the following:

i. Misting of irrigation devices;

ii. Operation of a broken sprinkler head; or

iii. Operation of a sprinkler head out of adjustment and the arc of the spray head is over a street, parking area, or other impervious surface.

j.) MAWA Exceedance – A customer with a separate irrigation meter shall not exceed 125% of the District MAWA.

k.) Excessive Application of Irrigation Water – Excessive application of water on landscapes without a dedicated irrigation meter may be subject to requiring a customer to implement a MAWA budget. Excessive use will be determined by considering appropriate standards of peak water consumption and size of irrigated area. Customers who excessively use water that are converted to a MAWA budget will become subject to the provisions contained in this Chapter for MAWA accounts.

l.) Dining Establishments – Drinking water shall only be served to customers upon request.

m.) Hotel or Motel Linen Laundry – The owner or operator of a hotel, motel, or other establishment that offers or provides lodging or rental accommodations for compensation shall provide customers with the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily. They must prominently display notice of this option in each bathroom using clear and easily understood language.

n.) Construction and Maintenance Water – Water used for general construction and maintenance activities, including dust control, compaction, and concrete curing, may come from one of two sources, potable or reclaimed. Potable water may be used from a fire hydrant meter supplied by the District or a metered connection if connection fees have been paid. Either potable water source requires payment for the water used. Reclaimed water is available from the District’s wastewater treatment plant at no cost. The use of construction water will be subject to inspection and possible termination if any pooling, ponding, or other waste of water occurs.

o.) Decorative Water Features – Are required to have a functioning recirculation system if using potable or raw water.

Exemptions from Permanent and Water Level Condition Water Restrictions

a.) The following are exempt from the watering day restrictions specified in Level 0 (h), but are subject to the watering hour restrictions:

i. Irrigation systems with a separate irrigation meter where the customer has a District approved MAWA irrigation plan and the customer does not exceed 100% of the District’s MAWA;

ii. Use of recycled water that is not supplemented by potable or raw water supplied by the District, as long as the recycled water supply is available; and

iii. Public parks, school playing fields and golf courses.

b.) In permanent Level 0 conditions only, upon written request to the District, a customer may receive an exemption for up to 30 days from the restrictions on days and hours of irrigation provided in Level 0 (h), to permit planting of new seed or installing of new t The 30-day exemption commences from the date of installation of the turf or the initial seeding. Exemptions for longer periods will require approval from the District Board of Directors.
c.) Commercial plant nurseries shall be exempt from the restrictions on days and hours of irrigation set forth in Level 0 (h).
d.) Hand-watering from a watering can shall be exempt from restrictions on days and hours of irrigation set forth in Level 0 (h).

e.) Hand-watering landscapes with a hose having a functioning automatic shut-off device shall be exempt from the restrictions on days and hours of irrigation set forth in Level 0 (h), but shall be subject to the conditions i. through ii. below. This exemption does not apply to the watering of new turf or lawn

i. Under Level 0 Permanent Water Conservation Requirements, Level 1, and Level 2 Water Conditions and Mandatory Reductions, hand-watering landscapes is allowed after 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

ii. Under Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 Water Conditions and Mandatory Reductions, hand-watering existing landscapes is allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
f.) Other variances from the water restrictions set forth in Level 0 (h) may be granted by the General Manager pursuant to the provisions of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, section 3.4.9.

Follow the link to view complete Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

During the period of a declared Level 1 Condition, all water customers shall be required to comply with the Level 0 permanent water measures and the following additional water conservation measures:

a) Irrigation of residential and commercial landscapes, except golf courses, public parks, and school playing fields, shall only occur between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. and between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

b) No hard surfaces including sidewalks, driveways, parking areas or decks may be washed or hosed down with water supplied through the District’s water system, unless required by health or safety requirements.

c) After the District institutes a Level 1 Condition or a higher water conservation level condition in any year, there shall be no new lawn areas planted (whether by sod, seed, hydro mulch, or other means) which will require water from the District’s potable water system. The exception to this would be if the landscape is managed under a District approved Landscape Plan and the landscape meets the current Town of Mammoth Lakes Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.

d) No more than five percent of existing turf area may be replaced or reseeded.

e) Any other measures that the Board determines will promote the appropriate level of water use reductions under this water shortage level and that are specified in any motion or other action adopted by the Board.

During the period of a declared Level 2 Condition, all water customers shall be required to comply with all Level 0 and Level 1 conservation measures, and also shall comply with the following additional conservation measures:

a) Irrigation of residential and commercial landscapes, except golf courses, public parks, and school playing fields, shall only occur between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. and between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Customers with a monthly MAWA may not have monthly water use exceeding 100% of the monthly allowance.

b) No turf areas may be replaced or reseeded.

c) Repair or prevention of all water leaks shall be carried out within 3 days of discovery by the customer or notification from the District.

d) Any other measures that the Board determines will promote the appropriate level of water use reductions under this water shortage level and that are specified in any motion or other action adopted by the Board.

During the period of a declared Level 3 Condition, all water customers shall comply with all Level 0, Level 1, and Level 2 conservation measures and also shall comply with the following additional conservation measures:

a) Irrigation of residential and commercial landscapes, except golf courses, public parks, and school playing fields, shall only occur between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Customers with odd addresses will be permitted to water only on Thursday and Sunday. Customers with even addresses will be permitted to water only on Wednesday and Saturday. Customers who do not have a numbered address will be notified by the District of their two watering days. Customers with a monthly MAWA may not have monthly water use exceeding 80% of the monthly allowance.

b) All water leaks, breaks, or other plumbing malfunctions shall be repaired within 2 days of discovery by the customer or notification by the District, with the exception of rental properties. In order to comply with State laws regarding the provision of notice to tenants, rental properties shall have up to 3 days to repair interior unit leaks.

c) Any other measures that the Board determines will promote the appropriate level of water use reductions under this water shortage level and that are specified in any motion or other action adopted by the Board.

During the period of a declared Level 4 Condition, all water customers shall be required to comply with all Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 conservation measures, and also shall comply with the following additional conservation measures:

a) Irrigation of residential and commercial landscapes, except golf courses, public parks, and school playing fields, shall only occur between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Customers with odd addresses will be permitted to water only on Thursday. Customers with even addresses will be permitted to water only on Wednesday. Customers who do not have a numbered address will be notified by the District of their watering day. Customers with a monthly MAWA may not have monthly water use exceeding 60% of the monthly allowance. Watering of any turf area is prohibited.

b) Any other measures that the Board determines will promote the appropriate level of water use reductions under this water shortage level and that are specified in any motion or other action adopted by the Board.

During the period of a declared Level 5 Condition, all water customers shall be required to comply with all Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 conservation measures, and also shall comply with the following additional conservation measures:

a) All landscape irrigation shall be prohibited.

iv. Golf courses, public parks, school playing fields, and landscape products of commercial growers and nurseries are exempt as set forth in 3.4.6.e.

v. Hand-watering existing landscapes with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle is exempt as set forth in 3.3.2 (e)ii.

b) All water leaks, breaks, or other plumbing malfunctions shall be repaired within 1 day of discovery by the customer or notification by the District, with the exception of rental properties. In order to comply with State laws regarding the provision of notice to tenants, rental properties shall have up to 3 days to repair interior unit leaks.

c) Filling or refilling of residential pools and spas is prohibited.

d) Vehicle washing may only be conducted at or by businesses licensed for such activity and which have a process to recycle wash water.

e) Any other measures that the Board determines will promote the appropriate level of water use reductions under this water shortage level and that are specified in any motion or other action adopted by the Board.