The purpose of this chapter is to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and local requirements, including, but not limited to, the City of Woodland Urban Water Management Plan, the State of California Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SBx7-7), and the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (23 CCR Section 490 et seq.), relating to water conservation and water shortage mitigation for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare by:
A. 
Reducing the per capita water consumption throughout the City of Woodland;
B. 
Establishing a plan to define water shortage stages;
C. 
Protecting and conserving the City's supply of water during specified times of emergency and/or crisis; and
D. 
Minimizing and/or eliminating the waste of water through voluntary compliance or punitive action, if necessary.
(Prior code § 23C-11-1)
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all water users within the City's territorial limits and to all customers, users, and/or recipients of the City's water service.
(Prior code § 23C-11-2)
Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions shall apply to all provisions of this chapter:
"Conservation"
means measures that limit the amount of water used to that which is reasonably necessary for the beneficial use to be served.
"Drought tolerant"
means any plant, tree, shrub, or ground cover listed as low or very low water use in WU-COLS (Water Use Classifications of Landscape Species) or other guidance provided by the Director of Public Works or designee.
"Efficient use"
means those management measures that result in the most effective use of water so as to prevent its waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use.
"Lake Shasta critical years"
means reductions that go into effect when the Bureau of Reclamation forecasts that the full natural inflow into Shasta Lake will be equal to or less than 3.2 million acre-feet.
"Nonresidential"
means any commercial, industrial, or institutional property.
"Normal water demand"
means the average of the water use for that month during the three most recent years in which the City had a reliable water supply, as defined below.
"Reliable water supply"
means the water supply adequate to meet all projected demands, as determined by the Public Works Director or designee, with at least two wells in reserve to assure reliability. To make this determination, the City will consider all relevant factors, which may include, but would not be limited to, groundwater levels, treatment and pumping capacity, and, from 2016 forward, Term 91 curtailments and Lake Shasta critical year reductions for surface water.
"Residential"
means any dwelling, single-family home, duplex, condominium, and any individual units within a multifamily building.
"Term 91"
means a State Water Resource Control Board water permit condition that curtails downstream diverters from taking diversions from streams when the State Water Project and Central Valley Project are releasing water from storage to meet the water quality standards for the delta.
"Water waste"
means:
1. 
Causing or permitting excessive water to discharge, flow, or run to waste into any gutter, sanitary sewer, watercourse, or storm drain, or to any adjacent property, from any tap, hose faucet, pipe, sprinkler, or nozzle. In the case of irrigation, "discharge," "flow," or "run to waste" means that the earth intended to be irrigated has been saturated with water to the point that excess water flows over the earth to waste.
2. 
Allowing water fixtures or heating or cooling devices to leak or discharge excessively.
3. 
Backwashing so as to discharge to waste from swimming pools, decorative basins or ponds in excess of the frequency necessary to ensure the healthful condition of the water or in excess of that required by standards for professionally administered maintenance or to address structural considerations.
4. 
Operation of an irrigation system that applies water to an impervious surface or that is in disrepair.
5. 
Irrigation of landscaping during rainfall.
6. 
Any other factors as determined by the Public Works Director and his or her designee.
(Prior code § 23C-11-3)
This section describes the normal water supply and six water shortage stages and restrictions in effect during times of normal water supply and during water shortage stages.
A. 
Normal Water Supply. When the City's water supply is adequate to meet all projected demands ("normal water supply"), as determined by the Public Works Director or designee, all water consumers are encouraged to be aware of water consumption and use water wisely. Water shall be used for beneficial purposes only; all unnecessary and wasteful uses of water are prohibited. Under the normal water supply stage, the following shall apply:
1. 
Water waste, as defined in Section 13.32.030, is prohibited.
2. 
All landscaping installed in the City of Woodland shall comply with the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (23 California Code of Regulations Section 490 et seq.) or the City landscape requirements (Chapter 17.112 of this code), whichever is more restrictive.
B. 
Stage One, Water Alert. A stage one, water alert shall exist when the City's reliable water supply is adequate to meet no more than 90% of projected demands as determined by the Public Works Director or designee. An objective of the stage one, water alert is to reduce water usage by 10% from the normal water demand level. Pursuant to California Water Code Section 350 et seq., unless an immediate emergency exists, the City will hold a public meeting prior to declaring a water shortage. Under a stage one water alert, the following restrictions shall apply:
1. 
All normal water efficiency measures shall continue in place as required by subsection A of this section, except when they are replaced by more restrictive conditions imposed by this section.
2. 
All City water customers shall reduce water use by 10% from their normal water demand. However, residential users whose total water use is already below the State provisional standard for residential indoor water use of 55 gallons (7.35 cubic feet) per person per day as stated in SBx7-7 (2009) or an adjusted standard set by the California Legislature shall not be required to further reduce their water use.
3. 
Hosing of hardscape surfaces except for health and safety purposes shall be prohibited.
4. 
Water hoses shall be equipped with a control nozzle capable of completely shutting off the flow of water except when positive pressure is applied.
5. 
Restaurants shall serve water only upon request.
6. 
The City may impose other or further regulations as the City Council may adopt after conducting a public hearing.
C. 
Stage Two, Water Warning. A stage two, water warning shall exist when the City's reliable water supply is adequate to meet no more than 80% of projected demands as determined by the Public Works Director or designee. An objective of the stage two water warning is to reduce water usage by 20% from the normal water demand level. Pursuant to California Water Code Section 350 et seq., unless an immediate emergency exists, the City will hold a notified public meeting prior to declaring a water shortage. Under a stage two water alert, the following restrictions shall apply:
1. 
All normal water efficiency measures shall continue in place as required by subsection B of this section, except when they are replaced by more restrictive conditions imposed by this section.
2. 
All residential users are to reduce water use by 20% of their normal water demand. However, residential users whose total water use is already below the State provisional standard for residential indoor water use of 55 gallons (7.35 cubic feet) per person per day as stated in SBx7-7 (2009) or an adjusted standard set by the California Legislature shall not be required to further reduce their water use.
3. 
Outdoor watering is restricted to three days per week.
4. 
The City may impose other or further regulations as the City Council may adopt after conducting a public hearing.
D. 
Stage Three, Water Warning. A stage three, water warning shall exist when the City's reliable water supply is adequate to meet no more than 70% of projected demands as determined by the Public Works Director or designee. An objective of the stage three water warning is to reduce water usage by 30% from the normal water demand level. Pursuant to California Water Code Section 350 et seq., unless an immediate emergency exists, the City will hold a public meeting prior to declaring a water shortage. Under a stage three water warning, the following restrictions shall apply:
1. 
All stage two water warning restrictions shall apply as required by subsection C of this section, except when they are replaced by more restrictive conditions imposed by this section.
2. 
All residential users are to reduce water use by 30% from their normal water demand. However, residential users whose total water use is already below the State provisional standard for residential indoor water use of 55 gallons (7.35 cubic feet) per person per day as stated in SBx7-7 (2009) or an adjusted standard set by the California Legislature shall not be required to further reduce their water use.
3. 
Outdoor watering is restricted to two days per week.
4. 
All nonresidential users are to reduce irrigation by 40% for existing landscapes.
5. 
The use of running water from a hose, pipe, or faucet for the purpose of cleaning buildings and outdoor hardscape surfaces is prohibited, except in the event the Director of Public Works, or designee, determines that such use is the only feasible means of correcting a potential threat to health and safety.
6. 
New or expanded landscaping is limited to drought tolerant trees, shrubs, and ground cover. No new turf grass shall be planted, hydroseeded, or laid.
7. 
Boats and vehicles shall be washed only at commercial washing facilities equipped with water recycling equipment or by use of a bucket and a hose equipped with a self-closing valve that requires operating positive pressure to activate the flow of water.
8. 
Operators of hotels, motels, and other commercial establishments offering lodging shall post in each room and site a notice of water shortage condition, approved by the Public Works Director.
9. 
The operation of, and introduction of water into, ornamental fountains is prohibited.
10. 
The City may impose other or further regulations as the City Council may adopt after conducting a public hearing.
E. 
Stage Four, Water Crisis. A stage four, water crisis shall exist when the City's reliable water supply is adequate to meet no more than 60% of projected demands as determined by the Public Works Director or designee. An objective of the stage four water crisis is to reduce water usage by 40% from the normal water demand level. Pursuant to California Water Code Section 350 et seq., unless an immediate emergency exists, the City will hold a public meeting prior to declaring a water shortage. Under a stage four water crisis, the following restrictions shall apply:
1. 
All stage three water warning restrictions shall apply as required by subsection C of this section, except when they are replaced by more restrictive conditions imposed by this section.
2. 
All residential users are to reduce water use by 40% from their normal water demand. However, residential users whose total water use is already below the State provisional standard for residential indoor water use of 55 gallons (7.35 cubic feet) per person per day as stated in SBx7-7 (2009) or an adjusted standard set by the California Legislature shall not be required to further reduce their water use.
3. 
Irrigation of any landscaping except trees or drought tolerant plantings is prohibited.
4. 
Boats, vehicles, and equipment shall be washed at commercial establishments that recycle water.
5. 
Filling pools and spas is prohibited.
6. 
The City may impose other or further regulations as the City Council may adopt after conducting a public hearing.
F. 
Stage Five, Water Crisis. A stage five, water crisis shall exist when the City's reliable water supply is adequate to meet no more than 50% of the projected demands as determined by the Public Works Director or designee. An objective of the stage five water crisis is to reduce water usage by 50% from the normal water demand level. Pursuant to California Water Code Section 350 et seq., unless an immediate emergency exists, the City will hold a public meeting prior to declaring a water shortage. Under a stage five water crisis, the following restrictions shall apply:
1. 
All stage four water crisis restrictions shall apply as required by subsection E of this section, except when they are replaced by more restrictive conditions imposed by this section.
2. 
All residential users are to reduce water use by 50% from their normal water demand. However, residential users whose total water use is already below the State provisional standard for residential indoor water use of 55 gallons (7.35 cubic feet) per person per day as stated in SBx7-7 (2009) or an adjusted standard set by the California Legislature shall not be required to further reduce their water use.
3. 
The City may impose other or further regulations as the City Council may adopt after conducting a public hearing.
G. 
Stage Six, Water Emergency (Health and Safety Only). A stage six, water emergency shall exist when there is major failure of a reliable water supply, storage, or distribution system, and the water shortage is greater than 50% of projected demands as determined by the Public Works Director or designee. An objective of the stage six water emergency is to reduce water usage by more than 50% from the normal water demand level. Pursuant to California Water Code Section 350 et seq., unless an immediate emergency exists, the City will hold a noticed public meeting prior to declaring a water shortage. Under a stage six water emergency, the following restrictions shall apply:
1. 
All stage five water crisis restrictions shall apply as required by subsection F of this section, except when they are replaced by more restrictive conditions imposed by this section.
2. 
The City shall impose other or further regulations, which the City Council determines to be necessary to ensure that water supply is used only to meet public health and safety needs. The City Council shall adopt such regulations after conducting a public hearing.
(Prior code § 23C-11-4; Ord. 1672 § 2, 2021)
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to the use of water for purposes of extinguishing fires or addressing any other emergency service. The use of water to meet regulatory requirements such as flushing pipes, pumping to waste for wells, and other regulatory requirements are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
(Prior code § 23C-11-5)
Should the City need to determine water consumption reductions for individual water users, the methodology below will be used for making that determination.
A. 
Whenever this chapter requires a reduction in residential water, the base year for measurement shall be the normal water demand for that property. If that data is not available for a property, allocations will be based on water use for similar properties with similar household sizes. If there is a lack of adequate supporting data for such an allocation, the normal water demand shall be based on the average use per Woodland household. This comparison will be used to determine both low and high outliers and noncompliance that may warrant individual contact. The Public Works Director, or designee, may elect to base a reduction on a consumption calculation in lieu of the base year if use was, in the Director's or designee's sole opinion, either excessive or extraordinarily low.
B. 
Whenever this chapter requires a reduction in commercial or industrial consumption of water for irrigation purposes, the base year for measurement shall be the normal water demand for that property. If that data is not available for a property, allocations will be based on water use for similar properties. This comparison will be used to determine both low and high outliers and noncompliance that may warrant individual contact. The Public Works Director, or designee, may elect to base a reduction on a landscape water consumption calculation in lieu of the base year if use was, in the Director's or designee's sole opinion, either excessive or extraordinarily low. For landscaping installed subsequent to the base year, the calculations shall be based on landscape water consumption calculations submitted with the landscape plan, or water consumption the previous year, whichever is less.
(Prior code § 23C-11-6)