As well-described by the media, California is currently in its third year of drought. The Governor proclaimed a drought emergency on February 27th and the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board called for 15% mandatory conservation for the remainder of 2009. As a retailer in the District’s service area, the City was urged to activate a mandatory conservation program.

Summer water conservation measures are mandatory in Morgan Hill through October 31st. A summary of these measures can be viewed here.

From November through March, winter water conservation measures will be in effect. During those months, irrigation is limited to one day per week (Wednesday). Research shows that plants need dramatically less water during the winter months due to shorter days, cooler temperatures and natural dormancy cycles. For many area of our landscape, irrigation can be turned off entirely during the winter months. A summary of mandatory winter measures can be viewed here.

City staff carefully considered its options for meeting the Water District's 15% water conservation mandate. Recalling the success Morgan Hill residents achieved voluntarily in meeting the State’s recycling mandate, the City is attempting to meet our water conservation challenge without water allocations or rate increases. As a result, Ordinance No. 1932 was adopted by City Council on May 27, 2009. To view this Water Conservation Ordinance in its entirety, click here.

In addition, the new ordinance establishes “supply shortage” levels that the City Council can adopt during times of drought or other supply shortages. As we are now in one of those periods, the City Council officially passed and adopted Resolution 6245 declaring a Level 1 Supply Shortage. Under Level 1 circumstances, additional restrictions have been put in place until further notice. For the specifics, view Resolution 6245 by clicking here.

Visit these websites to learn more ways that you can conserve water:
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Save 20 Gallons