Councilmember David Alvarez

City of San Diego

News Release
For Immediate Release Contact: Lisa Schmidt 619-210-9499
October 8, 2014 lmschmidt@sandiego.gov

Environment Committee Votes to Declare Level 2 Drought Restrictions

SAN DIEGO, CA. The City of San Diegos Committee on the Environment voted today for
a declaration of Level 2 Drought Water Restrictions.

Last week I issued a memorandum with Councilmember Harris to the Mayor calling for the
City to move to Drought Level 2 status, said Committee Chair David Alvarez. It is clear to
me that the current drought is not coming to an end in the near future and it is critical that we
take action now in order to guard against more severe restrictions in the future.

A declaration of the Drought Alert condition was last implemented in 2009, and is used
when a reduction of up to 20% is required to meet anticipated demands. The Alert Level
includes limiting irrigation to certain days and hours and makes water conservation practices
mandatory.

This item will now go to full City Council for approval and if signed into law, among the
mandatory restrictions are the following measures:

-- Watering lawns three days a week, and limited to seven minutes per station during the
cooler weather months;
-- Using hoses with shut-off nozzles or timed-sprinkler systems to provide water to
landscaped areas;
-- Washing vehicles only before 10AM or after 6PM;
-- Watering potted plants, vegetable gardens and fruit trees before 10AM or after 4PM; and
-- Not watering lawns or plants on rainy days.


###

Alvarez is the Councilmember for the Eighth Council District of the City of San Diego and is
Chair of the City Councils Committee on the Environment.