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Cal Water news release

Water Shortage Contingency Plan Stage 2 in 5 Districts

Posted on May 10, 2022

Utility Hosting Online Public Meetings to Educate Customers on New Drought Restrictions, Conservation Programs

NewsIn light of worsening drought conditions and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent Executive Order, Cal Water yesterday requested to move into Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan in its Antelope Valley, Dixon, King City, Salinas, and Selma Districts with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The utility will host a public meetings the week of May 30 to educate those customers about what Stage 2 means, including outdoor watering limits and increased water waste penalties, and provide information on conservation programs and tools available to help customers reduce their water use.

The workshops will be held virtually at calwater.com/stage2 on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, May 31 at 5:30 p.m.: King City and Salinas
  • Wednesday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m.: Antelope Valley
  • Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m.: Dixon
  • Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m.: Selma

Cal Water representatives will provide details about the new irrigation restrictions as part of Stage 2 and discuss current prohibited uses of water. Some of the restrictions include:

  • Outdoor landscape irrigation limited to two days per week between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., unless local ordinances state otherwise. Addresses ending in odd numbers may water on Tuesday and Saturday, while addresses that end in even numbers may water on Wednesday and Sunday.
  • All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in a customer’s plumbing fixtures and/or irrigation system must be repaired within five business days of written notification by Cal Water.
  • Vehicles may only be washed with a hose that has a shutoff nozzle or similar device.
  • Water may not be used on driveways or sidewalks, unless for health and safety purposes.
  • No watering of outdoor landscapes may occur during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall, considered to be a quarter-inch.
  • Restaurants may only serve water upon request, and hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of not having towels and linens laundered daily.

Customers will be receiving detailed information in the mail about Stage 2 and the meeting. The presentation will be available online at
calwater.com/drought after the meeting. If approved by the CPUC, Cal Water’s application would become effective June 10, 2022. At that point, all of Cal Water’s districts will be in Stage 2 of the utility’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

At the meeting, representatives will also provide details about Cal Water’s industry-leading conservation programs to help save water, including:

  • Lawn-to-garden rebate of $3 per square foot of lawn removed and replaced with low-water use landscaping
  • Spray-to-drip rebate of $0.50 per square foot of landscaping converted from standard spray irrigation to a drip system
  • Rebates on high-efficiency appliances and devices, with certain rebates recently doubled
  • A free Smart Landscape Tune-Up Program that includes an irrigation system evaluation along with installation of efficient devices and repair of most irrigation leaks at no cost
  • A free conservation kit that includes a garden hose nozzle with shutoff valve, high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, and more for residential customers

Program details and additional conservation resources can be found at calwater.com/conservation.