Drought and Water Conservation

Purified water: locally-controlled and drought-proof. This sustainable water supply will protect us from reoccurring droughts and climate change, securing a reliable water source for our future.

Learn more at purewater4u.org

Great work, Santa Clara County! We reached our conservation goal in July. Continue to make a difference by saving water. Read more here in the latest drought report.

Many of the percolation ponds around Santa Clara County have been empty for the past few years due to the severe drought impacting the region and state. In May 2022, Valley Water received an allocation of water from the federal water project to help meet the public health and safety needs of Santa Clara County. Valley Water is using this water to fill some of the 102 percolation ponds across the county, which will help replenish our groundwater supplies.

Read more here and check out the video below.

Valley Water has taken bold actions to lead the way in water conservation and the people of Santa Clara County are saying YES to saving water. Check out the latest data here.

Santa Clara County is in a severe drought emergency. The State of California has banned the watering of decorative grass by commercial, industrial and institutional properties, including homeowners’ associations.

For more information and a link to the State Water Board FAQ, click here.

What is the water waste enforcement program?

Unanimously approved by Valley Water’s Board of Directors on May 24, 2022, the water waste enforcement ordinance will enforce restrictions on outdoor water use that apply to residents and businesses, first through education and subsequently with notices of violation. Valley Water would issue fines escalating from $100 to $500 for violations and up to $10,000 for extraordinary amounts of waste.

What violations will be subject to enforcement?

The ordinance enforces Valley Water’s restrictions by encouraging the public to report water waste to Valley Water. Enforceable violations are:

• Watering ornamental lawns more than two days a week.

• Watering outdoor landscapes mid-day (between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.).

• Any outdoor watering that results in excessive runoff.

• Watering outdoors during/within 48 hours of rainfall.

Why is the enforcement of irrigation restrictions necessary?

We are in a severe drought emergency. Santa Clara County is enduring a third consecutive year of drought. Record-dry conditions in 2022 have greatly reduced the amount of available drinking water. Reservoirs across California and locally are well below average for this time of year. We haven’t made enough progress in our conservation efforts and believe this ordinance will help us increase countywide water-savings.

How can you report violations?

Valley Water’s water waste inspectors respond to reports of water waste and violations of local water use restrictions.

To report water waste, you may select any of these convenient options:

• Download our Access Valley Water app or go to https://access.valleywater.org/ and select the “Conserve Water & Save with Rebates” category, or search “water waste” in the search bar.
• Call (408) 630-2000
• Email WaterWise@valleywater.org
• Please include photos, cross-streets, landmarks, date, time and any other relevant details when reporting water waste. If preferred, reports can be submitted anonymously.

How will residents or businesses be notified of violations?

When Valley Water receives a report that water waste restrictions are being violated, the retailer will be notified. Valley Water or the retailer will initiate the enforcement process. Valley Water or retailers will use a series of notifications to inform those who are reported to be wasting water. These may include educational letters with tips on how to reduce water use and door hangers. If the violation persists after multiple notifications, fines may result.

How much are the fines?

When Valley Water receives a report that water waste restrictions are being violated, the retailer will be notified. Valley Water or the retailer will initiate the enforcement process. Valley Water or retailers will use a series of notifications to inform those who are reported to be wasting water. These may include educational letters with tips on how to reduce water use and door hangers. If the violation persists after multiple notifications, fines may result.

What violations will result in a fine?

Enforcement will be focused on water waste reports that are documented, with a specified address and source of water.

Will this ordinance add restrictions to golf courses, parks, sports fields and swimming pools?

The ordinance’s two-day per week watering restriction is for non-functional turf, which is solely ornamental and does not serve a community or neighborhood function. While golf courses, parks and sports fields are not limited to the two-day per week watering restriction, they are prohibited from runoff and mid-day watering. Valley Water encourages golf courses and parks to budget their water to prevent overuse. This ordinance does not add restrictions to swimming pools. We also encourage conversion of high water use landscape, including pools, to water-efficient landscape. Valley Water offers extensive rebates to convert your pool to a drought resilient landscape. Visit watersavings.org to learn more.

Where does this enforcement apply?

The prohibitions apply to properties in Santa Clara County that receive water supplied or managed by Valley Water directly or indirectly. The enforcement program will complement the existing enforcement programs of our water retailers. You can locate your water retailer: https://www.valleywater.org/find-my-retailer Is the landlord or tenant responsible for violations?

Is the landlord or tenant responsible for violations?

If a fine is assessed for water waste as outlined in this enforcement ordinance, it will be assessed to the property owner and not the tenant. The State of California prohibits homeowners associations from fining or requiring tenants to reverse or remove water-efficient landscaping measures, to fine someone for reducing or eliminating watering of their landscape, or to enforce landscaping guidelines or policies that prohibit the use of low water-using plants. Additional details can be found here: https://delivr.com/27jet

The Valley Water Board of Directors approved a program to enforce the restrictions on outdoor watering in Santa Clara County, which includes the potential for fines.

The water waste enforcement program, the first of its kind in Valley Water’s history, was unanimously approved on May 24, 2022. The program will impose restrictions on outdoor water use by residents and businesses and includes fines for those who ignore repeated notices to correct violations.

Read more here.

Santa Clara County and much of California are enduring a third year of drought. The region and state just experienced the driest January through March on record, further threatening our water supplies.

State and local reservoir levels are well below normal. The snowpack measured on April 1 in the Sierra Nevada was the fifth smallest on record, which significantly impacts the amount of imported water Santa Clara County will receive this year.

Because of these conditions, the Valley Water Board of Directors unanimously voted on April 12, 2022, to restrict the watering of lawns and ornamental landscapes in Santa Clara to no more than two days a week. The Board of Directors also voted to prohibit watering during the warmest parts of the day (for example, no irrigation between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.)

Read more here.