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Water Usage Restrictions

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1. What are the City's water restrictions, and how do they apply to me?

Fountain Valley has permanent water conservation requirements in place to promote the efficient use of water and reduce or eliminate water waste in the City. These requirements are in effect at all times and additional requirements may be implemented in response to water shortages.

The State's ban on the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf at commercial, industrial and institutional sites remains in effect. Watering of trees and other perennial non-turf plants is allowed.

 All water customers are required to comply with the water conservation requirements. For more information, visit Water Restrictions.

2. When did the restrictions go into effect?

The City has had permanent water conservation requirements in place since 2009 to promote the efficient use of water and reduce or eliminate waste of water in the City. These requirements are in effect at all times and additional requirements may be implemented in response to water shortages.

3. What are the specific watering requirements for outdoor landscaping?

Outdoor watering is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, or a hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Sprinklers may be turned on for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. (Permanent)

Outdoor watering is limited to no more than 15 minutes per station per day. (Permanent)

Outdoor watering that causes more than incidental water runoff is prohibited. (Permanent)

Watering during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall is prohibited. (Permanent)

Commercial, industrial and institutional sites are prohibited from using potable water to irrigate non-functional turf. (State Water Resources Control Board Emergency Regulation - Resolution 2022-0018)

4. How can I monitor my water usage?

As part of the City's efforts to help customers manage their water usage and save money, the City offers all residents and businesses the ability to monitor their water consumption through the City's Water Usage Customer Portal. Customers can use the portal to view their water consumption data online and sign up to receive email alerts. Click here to learn more about the Water Usage Customer Portal.

5. How will the water restrictions be enforced?

Fountain Valley is continuing its efforts (in person, through letters, door hangers, etc.) to make customers aware of violations that occur. This will typically be a step-up process that focuses on education and assistance to help the customer remedy the issue. Customers who violate these regulations will be issued a warning for the first violation and will be subject to fines of up to $1,000 for continued violations. 

6. Do the water restrictions apply to the use of recycled water for irrigation purposes?

The water restrictions do not apply to the use of recycled water for irrigation purposes. The Fountain Valley Sports Park, Mile Square Park, David L. Baker Golf Course, Mile Square Golf Course, Green Valley Park, Hyundai Motor America and areas along the Santa Ana River Trail utilize recycled water for irrigation purposes and are not subject to the watering restrictions. 

7. What is non-functional turf?

Non-functional turf is turf that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events. Non-functional turf does not include sports fields and turf that is regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events, such as parks and school fields.

The prohibition against the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf only applies to commercial, industrial and institutional water users, including HOAs. It does not apply to individual residences.

8. What are commercial, industrial and institutional sites?

"Commercial, industrial and institutional" refers to commercial water users, industrial water users, and institutional water users as respectively defined in Water Code, section 10608.12, subdivisions (e), (i), and (j), and includes homeowners' associations, common interest developments, community service organizations, and other similar entities but does not include the residences of these entities' members or separate interests.

California Water Code Definitions (Section 10608.12)

Commercial Water User - a water user that provides or distributes a product or service.

Industrial Water User - a water user that is primarily a manufacturer or processor of materials as defined by the North American Industry Classification System code sectors 31 to 33, inclusive, or an entity that is a water user primarily engaged in research and development.

Institutional Water User - a water user dedicated to public service. This type of user includes, among other users, higher education institutions, schools, courts, churches, hospitals, government facilities, and nonprofit research institutions.

 

9. What is potable water?

Potable water is water that is suitable for drinking.

10. How is Fountain Valley doing its part?

Fountain Valley is doing many things to reduce water use on public property, such as using recycled water to irrigate landscapes, reducing irrigation run times, and replacing turf and other ornamentals with drought tolerant landscapes. The City stopped watering ornamental turf on public street medians as mandated by the State several years ago and is exploring drought tolerant alternatives. Fountain Valley also continues its outreach to the public regarding water conservation and available incentives for customers to install water efficient devices.

In response to the State's ban on the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf at commercial, industrial and institutional sites, the City has also stopped irrigating the areas of non-functional turf identified at City Hall, the Senior Center, Fire Station No. 2, the City Yard and Well #8.

Please note that the Fountain Valley Sports Park is irrigated with recycled water that is not subject to the City's permanent water restrictions.

11. Can I hand water between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.?

Yes. Watering using a hand-held bucket or similar container, or a hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

12. What does no more than 15 minutes per station per day mean?

Outdoor areas are usually broken up into smaller areas for irrigation purposes. One section is watered for a set amount of time and goes off. Then another section is watered and goes off until the entire area has been watered. Each section (usually controlled by its own sprinkler valve) is a "station."  Therefore, each station can be watered for up to 15 minutes per station per day.  

13. What if 15 minutes per station per day is too much?

Outdoor watering is limited to a maximum of 15 minutes per station per day. For most irrigable areas and most irrigation systems, 15 minutes is too long and will result in more than incidental runoff which is prohibited. The time frame was put in place to not only accommodate residential users, but also larger commercial and recreational areas that may need longer to cycle through each station. The combination of 15 minutes per station and no more than incidental runoff should be self-limiting. If someone can water 15 minutes without creating runoff then they can do that. If runoff is created at 5 minutes, then that should be the end of the watering time for that station.

14. How can I prevent runoff?

More than incidental water runoff is prohibited during outdoor watering. It carries pollutants to the ocean, wastes water and is a sign that too much water is being applied to the area. If you are experiencing runoff, reduce the amount of time that you are watering. If the area needs more water, try watering for a short amount of time before 9 a.m. and again after 6 p.m.. Just make sure that your total watering duration per station per day is not more than 15 minutes. You will probably find that you need less than 15 minutes per station per day. 

Overspray is different than runoff. Overspray is when sprinklers reach beyond the area being watered and spray hard surfaces, such as streets, sidewalks and driveways. This can be controlled by turning down sprinklers and/or adjusting the sprinkler heads to better direct the water. If you would like to replace your old sprinkler heads with more water efficient rotating sprinkler nozzles, rebates may be available at www.ocwatersmart.com.

15. What resources are available to help me reduce my water use?

There are a wide range of programs and incentives to help you reduce your daily water use. The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and the City of Fountain Valley offer rebates on water efficient devices, like smart sprinkler timers and rotating sprinkler nozzles; rebates for replacing turf with California Friendly landscapes; rebates on clothes washers and premium high efficiency toilets; free home water use surveys and water-wise gardening classes; and much more. For more information, visit our Water Efficiency Rebates & Programs webpage.

16. Watering of ornamental turf on public street medians is prohibited. What is a public street median?

A public street median is the portion of the roadway separating opposing directions of traffic that is owned and maintained by a public entity, such as the City. 

The strip of grass between the sidewalk and the curb is called the parkway. It is within City right-of-way, but it belongs to the homeowner and is the maintenance responsibility of the homeowner. Parkways can be watered on the same schedule as the rest of the outdoor landscaping. If you would like to remove turf in this area and replace it with drought tolerant landscaping, you may do so by requesting an encroachment permit from our Public Works Department. Please know that turf removal rebates might be available through the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). If you would like more information about turf removal and available rebates, visit our Turf Removal webpage.

17. Do drip irrigation systems have the same restrictions?

No. Landscape irrigation systems that exclusively use very low-flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour and weather-based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers that meet a seventy percent efficiency standard are not limited to 15 minutes per station per day. 

18. How are soaker hoses treated?

They are subject to the same restrictions regarding duration (no more than 15 minutes per station per day).

19. Can I use water that I capture in a bucket in the shower while the water is warming up or water I used for cooking vegetables to water my plants?

Absolutely! In fact, we would encourage that. To make the best use of this water, it is suggested that you use it during the evening hours or early morning to minimize evaporation.

20. Is the City encouraging gray water systems?

No. Gray water, while well-meaning for drought conditions, does present other concerns. If there is any runoff, it becomes a pollutant for downstream waters, including the ocean. Additionally, all gray water in the City of Fountain Valley that is sent to waste through inside drains eventually ends up at the Orange County Sanitation District. There it is recycled and converted along with black waste water into potable quality water that is replenished back into the groundwater basin for pumping and potable use.

21. Why are they watering during the day at Mile Square Park?

The Fountain Valley Recreation Center and Sports Park, Mile Square Park and the golf courses use recycled water for outdoor irrigation. Recycled water is not potable and is not subject to the water restrictions. Therefore, the watering schedule at the Sports Park will be set to maintain the fields in proper condition for the community's enjoyment.

22. How do I report water waste?

You can report water waste online or by calling 714-593-4600.