(a)
A reliable supply of potable water is essential to the public health,
safety and welfare of the people and economy of the state of California,
the southern California region and the City of Palm Springs.
(b)
The state of California, the Coachella Valley and the City of Palm
Springs suffer from periodic water shortages.
(c)
An active water conservation program along with water waste prevention
regulations applicable to all sources and uses of water is essential
to ensure a reliable supply of water for drinking, sanitation and
fire protection, and to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
(d)
A water conservation program and water waste prevention regulations
are necessary to mitigate effects of water shortages in the City of
Palm Springs by reducing water consumption by residents, businesses
and visitors, while minimizing the hardship caused to the general
public to the greatest extent possible.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
(a)
The purposes of this Chapter are to increase the conservation of
water and provide regulation for the efficient use of potable water,
prevent the unreasonable use of water, and maximize the use of recycled
water where practicable.
(b)
This Chapter is intended solely to further the conservation of water.
It is not intended to implement or supersede any federal, state or
local statute, ordinance or regulation relating to protection of water
quality or control of drainage or runoff.
(c)
This Chapter does not modify, terminate or otherwise affect the water
services, water rates, or sewer services of any person.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
The following words, terms and phrases when used in this Chapter
have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except where the
context clearly indicates a different meaning:
means any natural person or persons, corporation, public
or private entity, governmental agency or institution, or any other
user of water within the City.
means a hand-held sprayer or similar device that quickly,
automatically and absolutely stops the flow of water when the user
stops exerting pressure.
means a water conserving cleaning device that emits not more
than three gallons of water per minute.
means the capture, reclamation and reuse of non-potable water
for beneficial use.
means a water conserving sweeping device with spray jets
that emit not more than three gallons of water per minute.
means a water conserving fixture, device or system that complies
with the water conservation standards of the most current edition
of the California Plumbing Code or, if no standard applies, is EPA
WaterSense labeled or its equivalent. In no case shall the fixture,
device or system use more water than is indicated by the standard
stated in this section.
means a system that reclaims and reuses non-potable water.
means the use of potable water not in compliance with Section 11.06.050 of this code.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
This Chapter is applicable to every person, commercial business,
or other water user, in the use of any water, within the City. The
City Council may by Resolution, exempt pilot programs or special programs
of limited scope undertaken by the City or undertaken in conjunction
with the City's water provider.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
Water waste is unlawful in the City of Palm Springs. The following
water conservation requirements shall apply to all persons:
(a)
Watering hours and duration. No lawn or landscaped area shall be
irrigated or watered by any means between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and
7:00 p.m. on any day. Above-ground spray irrigation or watering shall
not exceed 15 minutes per irrigation station or area.
This subsection shall not apply to:
1.
Drip irrigation systems.
2.
Use of a hand-held bucket or similar container.
3.
Use of a hand-held hose equipped with a positive action quick-release
shutoff valve or nozzle.
4.
Irrigation necessary to establish newly planted low water usage plants.
5.
Water expended for limited periods of time necessary for irrigation
system maintenance or leak repair.
6.
Irrigation necessary to establish annual reseeding of seasonal grass
and planting seasonal color for a maximum period of 14 days after
the reseeding or the newly planted seasonal color.
(b)
Over-watering. No lawn or landscaped area shall be irrigated or watered
to the point where excess water ponds, sprays or runs off the lawn
or landscaped area onto any walkways, sidewalks, driveways, streets,
alleys, storm drains, adjacent property or non-irrigated property.
(c)
Irrigation during rainfall. No lawn or landscaped area shall be irrigated
or watered during rainfall.
(d)
Landscape irrigation system maintenance. Landscape irrigation systems
shall be maintained to ensure water efficiency and shall be regularly
inspected, maintained and repaired to eliminate leaks and remove obstructions
to water emission devices. System maintenance shall include, but is
not limited to, resetting the landscape clock monthly.
(e)
Water fountains and decorative water features. No person shall operate a fountain or other decorative water feature that does not recycle or recirculate the water utilized by the device. Permits must be obtained for the drainage of water fountain and decorative water features pursuant to Section 14.24.060 of this Code.
(f)
Cleaning. No person shall use water to wash or clean any sidewalks,
walkways, patios, driveways, alleys, parking or similar areas, whether
paved or unpaved; however, use of water brooms, or pressure washers
or similar low flow technology, recycled water, or water recycling
systems to clean these surfaces, is permitted.
(g)
Car Washing. No person shall use water to wash or clean any motorized
or un-motorized vehicle, including but not limited to truck, boat,
van, bus, motorcycle, trailer or similar vehicle except by use of
a bucket or similar container or hand held hose equipped with a positive
action quick-release shutoff valve or nozzle. This subsection shall
not apply to any commercial car washing facility that uses a water
recycling system to capture or reuse water.
(h)
Eating and drinking establishments shall only provide drinking water
to customers upon request.
(i)
Hotels and motels shall provide customers the option of choosing
not to have towels and linens laundered daily and shall prominently
display this option in each bathroom and sleeping room using clear
and easily understood language.
(j)
Water and leaks. No person shall:
1.
Cause, permit or allow water to leak from any exterior or interior
pipe, hose or plumbing fixture.
2.
Cause, permit or allow water to flow from any source, without first
being put to productive use, on private or public property onto walk-ways,
sidewalks, streets, alleys or storm drains, except as a result of
rainfall or pumping excessive groundwater infiltration, such as by
means of a sump pump.
|
For the purposes of this Subsection productive use shall mean,
the use of potable water for cleaning or irrigation in a manner to
prevent runoff, over sprays or other similar conditions onto an area
not intended for cleaning or irrigation.
|
(k)
Pools and spas. Permits must be obtained for the drainage of pools and spas pursuant to Section 14.24.060 of this Code. Pools and spas shall be drained into the public sewer system. It is unlawful to drain a pool or spa directly or indirectly into the storm drainage system or public streets, roadways or gutters. This subsection shall not apply if the property is not connected to the public sewer system. Pools and spas may be drained into the storm drain system if the property is not connected to the public sewer system with a valid permit issued pursuant to Section 14.24.060 of this Code.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
The Water Conservation Requirements contained in Section 11.06.050 are not applicable as follows:
1.
For
uses of water that are necessary to protect public health and safety
or for essential governmental services when such uses of water cannot
be reduced.
2.
Water
used to comply with California Air Quality Management District dust
control regulations and requirements.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
(a)
The requirements of this Chapter are in addition to, and not in lieu
of, the Desert Water Agency Water Supply Plan for Emergency Supply
Shortage, adopted by Ordinance No. 45 of the Board of Directors of
the Desert Water Agency, as may be amended.
(b)
The requirements of this Chapter are in addition to, and not in lieu
of, any Federal or state Water Supply Plan or Regulation for Emergency
Supply Shortage.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
(a)
Any violation of this Chapter is a public nuisance, and may be subject to the provisions of Chapter 11.72 of this code.
(c)
The remedies provided for in this Section are in addition to, and
not in lieu of, all other legal remedies, criminal or civil, which
may be pursued by the City to address any violation of this code or
other public nuisance.
(Ord. 1858 § 1, 2014)
