Volta Community Services District

As required by California State law, the Volta Community Services District (CSD) has implemented a Water Restriction Ordinance.
The following guidelines shall be followed by all water users:
WHEREAS, article X, section 2 of the California Constitution declares that waters of the State are to be put to beneficial use, that waste, unreasonable use, or unreasonable method of use of water be prevented, and that water be conserved for the public welfare; and WHEREAS, conservation of current water supplies and minimization of the effects of water supply shortages that are the result of drought are essential to the public health, safety and welfare; and WHEREAS, California Water Code sections 375 et seq. empower any public entity which supplies water at retail or wholesale to adopt and enforce a water conservation program to reduce the quantity of water used by those within its service after holding a public hearing and making appropriate findings of necessity for the adoption of a water conservation program; and WHEREAS, Water Code section 375, subdivision (c) defines “public entity” to include a city, county, special district, water authority, or any other municipal public corporation or district; and WHEREAS, the adoption and enforcement of a comprehensive water conservation program will allow the Volta Community Services District, hereinafter referred to as Volta CSD, to delay or avoid declaring a water shortage emergency pursuant to Water Code section 350; and WHEREAS, on September 11, 2014, the Volta CSD declared the existence of a local drought emergency; and WHEREAS, on September 11, 2014, the Volta CSD held a public hearing and made appropriate findings of necessity for the adoption of a water conservation program; the State of California Office of Administrative Law issued a notice of approval of emergency regulatory action which set further goals and restrictions on the State’s drought emergency 20% water conservation goal. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Volta CSD, as follows:
1) This ordinance is effective immediately upon adoption or as otherwise established by State law; and
2) This ordinance establishes regulations to be implemented during times of declared water shortages, or declared water shortage emergencies. It establishes four levels of drought response actions to be implemented in times of shortage, with increasing restrictions on water use in response to worsening drought conditions and decreasing available supplies;
3) The Volta CSD Board of Directors shall determine the level of drought response action and shall post the notification on Volta CSD’s website www.voltawater.com and at the information board inside the pump enclosure located at 13497 Volta Road. Public notices shall also be included with the regular billing invoices sent by regular mail to all Volta CSD customers. Mandatory conservation measures shall take effect immediate following the declaration of the response level.
4) The Volta CSD Board of Directors shall determine the level of drought response action and shall post the notification on Volta CSD’s website www.voltawater.com and at the information board inside the pump enclosure located at 13497 Volta Road. Public notices shall also be included with the regular billing invoices sent by regular mail to all Volta CSD customers. Mandatory conservation measures shall take effect immediate following the declaration of the response level.
Stage 1 Drought Response condition - Volta CSD will implement the following voluntary water use limitations:
(a) a) Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to no more than 3 (three) days per week. No watering should occur between the hours of 12 noon and 6 PM.
(b) Repair all water leaks within five (5) days of notification by the Volta CSD unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.
(c) Mandatory Restrictions on Water Use: During severe drought emergency conditions and to preserve the water supply for the greatest public benefit with regard to domestic use, sanitation, and fire protection, the following uses of water are prohibited:
*1 Use of lawn or garden watering, or any other landscape irrigation, in a manner which results in excessive ponding, flooding and/or excessive runoff in patios, driveways, roads or streets;
*2 Use of water for washing outdoor structures, streets, roads, walkways, driveways, patios, parking lots or other hard-surfaced areas;
*3 Use of hoses for any purpose, including washing cars, boats, trailers or other vehicles and machinery, without a quick-acting positive shutoff nozzle;
*4 Use of non-recycling decorative water fountains.
*5 Use of water for the irrigation of lawns or other landscaped areas on consecutive days. Landscape irrigation cannot be more frequent than 2 days per week.
This section does not apply to the following categories of use:
• Maintenance of existing landscape necessary for fire protection.
• Watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container.
• Maintenance of vegetation, including vegetable gardens, fruit trees and shrubs, intended for human consumption.
• Use of water for the irrigation of new landscape installed after August 1, 2014. Newly planted lawns will be allowed daily watering until the second mowing.
• Use of private wells for outdoor watering.
Stage 2 Drought Response condition - all persons using Volta CSD water shall comply with Stage 1 Drought Response Alert, and shall also comply with the following additional mandatory conservation measures:
(a) Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to no more than three assigned days per week on a schedule established by Volta CSD. During the months of November through May, landscape irrigation is limited to no more than twice per week on a schedule established by the General Manager and posted by the Volta CSD.
(b) Limit lawn watering and landscape irrigation using sprinklers no more than ten (10) minutes per watering station per day. This provision does not apply to landscape irrigation systems using water efficient devices, including but not limited to: weather based controllers, drip/micro-irrigation systems and stream rotor sprinklers.
(c) Water landscaped areas, including trees and shrubs located on residential and commercial properties, and not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system governed by section 5(b)(1),on the same schedule set forth in section 5 (b) (1) by using a bucket, hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle, or low-volume non-spray irrigation.
(d) Repair all leaks within seventy-two (72) hours of notification by the Volta CSD unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.
(e) Stop operating ornamental fountains or similar decorative water features unless recycled water is used.
Stage 3 Drought Response condition - all persons using Volta CSD water shall comply with Stage 1 and 2 Drought Response Alerts, and shall also comply with the following additional mandatory conservation measures:
(a) Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to no more than 2 (two) assigned days per week on a schedule established by Volta CSD. During the months of November through May, landscape irrigation is limited to no more than twice per week on a schedule established by the General Manager and posted by the Volta CSD. No watering shall occur between the hours of  11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
As resolved by the Volta CSD Board of Directors in September 11, 2014, watering days will be on Wednesday and Sunday for residential customers; and Tuesday and Saturday for commercial customers.
(b) Water landscaped areas, including trees and shrubs located on residential and commercial properties, and irrigated by a landscape irrigation system governed by section 6 (b) (1), on the same schedule set forth in section 6(b)(1) by using a bucket, hand-held hose with a positive shut-off nozzle, or low-volume non-spray irrigation.
(c) Stop filling or re-filling ornamental lakes or ponds, except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life, provided that such animals are of significant value and have been actively managed with the water feature prior to declaration of a drought response level under this ordinance.
(d) Stop washing vehicles except at commercial carwashes that re-circulate water, or by high pressure/low volume wash systems.
(e) Repair all leaks within forty-eight (48) hours of notification by the Volta CSD unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.
(f) Additionally, no new potable water service shall be provided, and no statements of immediate ability to serve or provide potable water service (such as, will serve letters, certificates or letters of availability) shall be issued.
Stage 4 Drought Response condition - all persons using Volta CSD water shall comply with Stage 1, 2 and 3 Drought Response Alerts, and shall also comply with the following additional mandatory conservation measures:
(a) Stop all landscape irrigation. This restriction shall not apply to the following categories:

i.) Maintenance of trees and shrubs that are watered on the same schedule set forth in section 6 (b) (1) by using a bucket, hand-held hose with a positive shut-off nozzle, or low-volume non-spray irrigation;

ii.) Maintenance of existing landscaping necessary for fire protection as specified by the Fire Marshal of the local fire protection agency having jurisdiction over the property to be irrigated;

iii.) Maintenance of existing landscaping for erosion control;

iv.) Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the well-being of rare animals;

v.) Maintenance of school grounds provided that such irrigation does not exceed two (2)days per week according to the schedule established under section 6 (b) (1);

vi.) Watering of livestock

b) Repair all water leaks within twenty-four (24) hours of notification by the Volta CSD unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.