Helix Water District Ends Drought Restrictions Dating to Summer 2009

Helix Water District directors Wednesday ended mandatory watering restrictions for area residents that date to summer 2009.

“This year’s near record snowpack and abundant local rainfall has allowed us to drop restrictions,” Mark Weston, the district’s general manager, said of the Drought Response Level 2 water conditions.  

“In spite of abundant supplies, about 90 percent of our water is imported from Northern California or the Colorado River. Therefore, reducing water demands and enhancing local supplies remains a top priority for the district.”

Through conservation, Helix’s customers have reduced the district’s water use by more than 14 percent since July 1, 2009, when Level 2 restrictions were instituted, officials said. 

According to Joe Young, Helix’s systems operations manager, “The gallons per capita per day dropped from 126 in July 2009 to 108 in March 2011. That is an impressive reduction.”

Helix officials say they are eager to have customers sustain the gain in water conservation by continuing to monitor their usage carefully. 

“Our customers have done an outstanding job in conserving water over the past two years, and we encourage them to continue to conserve,” Weston said. “The largest reduction in water usage is achieved by converting landscaping from high-water use, such as turf, to low-water-use designs.”

The La Mesa-based water agency offers a free home or business landscape survey to help owners find the most efficient ways to water their landscaping. Free professionally designed landscape plans are also available on the district’s website.

The district also is a founding partner of The Water Conservation Garden on the grounds of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, and encourages home and business owners to visit The Garden (thegarden.org) and consider making landscaping changes that are more water efficient.

These were the Drought Level 2 restrictions in force since June 2009:

All persons using Helix Water District water shall comply with Level 1 Drought Watch water conservation practices during a Level 2 Drought Alert, and shall also comply with the following additional conservation measures:

• Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to no more than three (3) assigned days per week on a schedule established by the General Manager and posted by the Helix Water District. This section shall not apply to commercial growers or nurseries.
• Limit lawn watering and landscape irrigation using sprinklers to no more than ten (10) minutes per watering station per assigned day. Irrigation run time shall be adjusted to avoid runoff. 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.
• Water landscaped areas, including trees and shrubs located on residential and commercial properties, and not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system governed by Section 4.9-6(B)(1), on the same schedule set forth in Section 4.9-6(B)(1) by using a bucket, hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle, or low-volume non-spray irrigation.
• Repair all leaks within seventy-two (72) hours of notification by the Helix Water District unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.

These were mandatory rules under Water Shortage Level 1:

• Stop washing down paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or patios, except when it is necessary to alleviate safety or sanitation hazards.
• Stop water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation, such as runoff, low head drainage, overspray, etc. Similarly, stop water flows onto nontargeted areas, such as adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, hardscapes, roadways or structures.
• Irrigate residential and commercial landscape before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only. Irrigation run time should be adjusted to avoid runoff.
• Use a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle or bucket to water landscaped areas, including trees and shrubs located on residential and commercial properties that are not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system.
• Irrigate nursery and commercial growers' products before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only. Irrigation of nursery propagation beds is permitted at any time. Watering of livestock is permitted at any time.
• Use re-circulated water to operate ornamental fountains.
• Wash vehicles using a bucket and a hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle, mobile high-pressure/low volume wash system, or at a commercial site that reclaims water on-site. Avoid washing during hot conditions when additional water is required due to evaporation.
• Serve and refill water in restaurants and other food service establishments only upon request.
• Offer guests in hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.