SCV DROUGHT NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2022
With severe drought conditions, we are asking our residential and business customers, HOAs, schools and visitors to join our efforts to save water. Read on and learn more about rebates, incentives, water-saving tips and tools, plus ways to protect your landscape and trees.

Visit www.DroughtReadySCV.com for more information.
IN THIS ISSUE
  • Watering requirements, restrictions and exemptions

  • Protect your landscape and trees

  • Rebates and resources
WE'RE IN STAGE 2 OF THE WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
Here’s what that means for you:

In response to severe multi-year drought conditions locally and throughout the State. We're encouraging all customers to voluntarily reduce their water use by up to 20% by following these measures now in effect:
WATERING REQUIREMENTS
  • Water no more than three days per week
  • Odd Addresses: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
  • Even Addresses: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
  • No watering on Saturdays
  • Set watering run times to a maximum of two five-minute cycles per station per watering day (10 minutes max)
  • Water only in the morning and evening
  • May to October: midnight to 9 a.m. and/or 8 p.m. to midnight
  • November to April: midnight to 10 a.m. and/or 6 p.m. to midnight
PROHIBITED WATER WASTE MEASURES
  • Allowing runoff onto non-irrigated areas when irrigating with potable (drinking) water 
  • Using hoses without shutoff nozzles when washing cars
  • Using potable water to wash sidewalks, driveways, and hardscapes
  • Irrigating outdoors during and within 48 hours following precipitation of a quarter inch or more
  • Using potable water to irrigate ornamental turf on public street medians
EXEMPTIONS TO WATERING REQUIREMENTS: 
If your irrigation fits into these categories, you are NOT limited to 3 watering days! Watering day and time limits do not apply to:

  • Landscape irrigation zones that use drip irrigation
  • Landscape irrigation zones that use high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles with low precipitation rates (equal to or less than 1 in per hour)
  • Hand watering of established trees as well as fruits and vegetables for human consumption

THANK YOU, SUPERSTARS!
We know many of you are already water-saving superstars and not every household may have another 20% to save. We ask that you review the BIG THREE WATER SAVERS:
PROTECT YOUR LANDSCAPE DURING A DROUGHT
SCV Water is not asking our customers to pull the plug on irrigating their landscapes. Instead, we are asking customers to irrigate efficiently and minimize water waste, resulting in less water used, a lower water bill and water for tomorrow.

More than half of an average home's water use is outdoors. Often, up to half of that is wasted due to common irrigation issues. Look for & fix these issues for quick water savings!

  • Broken or misaligned sprinklers
  • Leaking valves
  • Incorrectly programmed irrigation timers
  • Runoff caused by watering more than the soil can absorb
YOUR IRRIGATION PRACTICES MATTER
THE TIME OF DAY YOU WATER MATTERS. Early morning (midnight to 9 a.m.) or late at night (8 p.m. to midnight) will keep more water on your landscape rather than evaporating in the heat and wind. 

HOW LONG YOU WATER MATTERS. Much of our SCV soil is clay, which means there is typically runoff after 5 minutes of traditional irrigation. By breaking the 10-minute watering time into two 5-minute or less cycles, your landscape will soak up more of the water it needs. 

YOUR IRRIGATION ZONES MATTER. Two 5-minute cycles are allowed per irrigation zone. Therefore, each section of your groundcover, shrubs or other landscaped areas can be watered a maximum of twice a day, no more than 5 minutes each time. Grouping plants of similar irrigation needs allows for the most efficient use of water. 

However, if you need to hand-water brown spots, you can do so when using a hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle. This smart practice is more efficient than increasing how much you run your sprinklers.
TOP TIPS TO CARE FOR TREES
Are you worried about how reducing water use will affect your trees? We’ve got you covered! Read more about using drip irrigation, soaker hose, watering wells and more to protect your trees while still saving water.
YES, THERE'S A REBATE FOR THAT!
Residential and commercial customers can get rebates to:
  • Upgrade to more efficient irrigation, including smart controllers, drip irrigation, high-efficiency nozzles and (commercial only) pressure regulators
  • Replace turf with water-wise landscaping

For more information and other free resources, visit: conserve.yourSCVwater.com
Learn more about the drought, water savings and requirements at DROUGHTREADYSCV.COM.
27234 Bouquet Canyon Rd
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
yourSCVwater.com // (661) 297-1600