Petaluma tightens water rules

Petaluma is ratcheting up its efforts to reduce water use in the city, part of an effort to comply with state-mandated cuts in light of the current drought.

The measures, approved by the Petaluma City Council on Monday, largely follow the “stage two” procedure outlined in the city’s 2011 Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The decision advances rules from “stage one” of the plan that the city voted to enact in March of last year.

The rules now limit outdoor irrigation to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. The city itself will also limit irrigation to three days, but will do so during the week.

Drinkable water - which includes what comes out of a home sprinkler system - cannot be used for irrigation within 48 hours of rainfall. Irrigation for public ornamental medians that comes from the municipal drinking supply will be shut off.

In addition, hotels in the city are required to clearly advertise to guests the option to not have their towels and linens washed every day.

The council chose to ramp up the requirement for builders to use highly treated wastewater for dust control. A project would be required to use recycled water trucked from the Ellis Creek wastewater plant, but would be allowed “one truck load” of potable water per day if the city agreed that such a trip was unreasonable.

Meanwhile, the council ratcheted down a rule prohibiting the filling of new swimming pools. Pools with a building permit issued by June 1 would be allowed, along any new public facilities.

Other existing rules remain in effect, including a requirement for nozzles installed on outdoor hoses and the serving of water in restaurants only by request.

Those who fail to comply with the irrigation rules or reduce a high level of use after outreach from the city will be subject to an escalating response, starting with an initial knock on the door to an eventual $1,000 fine and possible shutoff of service for repeat violators.

In total, the stage two rules are designed to save Petaluma an additional 25 percent on its current water use. The city needs to reduce overall use by at least 16 percent in order to comply with the state’s requirements, which would total a 25 percent savings compared to 2013.

Despite the ramped up rules, Director of Public Works Dan St. John recognized city residents and businesses for voluntary reductions throughout the drought. He noted that the city will be exploring ways to reward and support water-saving retrofits and education in the near future.

“I’ve said it many times in this town - when there’s a crisis, people respond,” he said.

Water customers will receive notice of the new rules in online and paper billing, along with other advertisements. Two additional staff will be hired to focus on water conservation, and the city is expecting to spend $100,000 beyond a typical year for temporary labor, advertising and consulting during the drought period.

(Contact Eric Gneckow at eric.gneckow@arguscouri er.com.)