Steps the Manteca City Council is expected to take tonight to reduce allowable outside watering isn’t about getting through this year with adequate water supplies.
It is about making sure Manteca doesn’t find itself rationing water in some form next year.
The council is meeting tonight at 7 o’clock to consider water conversation ordinance changes that, among other things, would reduce allowable watering days from three to two.
It also clamps down on any water ruining into gutters and other impermeable surfaces in a bid to reduce water consumption by 20 percent over 2020 levels.
Last month Manteca was only able to reduce its water use by 7 percent compared to July of 2020.
The South San Joaquin Irrigation District that supplies surface water to Manteca, Lathrop and Tracy as well as area farmers has repeatedly emphasized if everyone uses water wisely that the district will be able to meet all needs this year.
However, reservoir levels in the current third year of drought are as bad as they were in 2015.
If 2016 hadn’t been a higher than average year for the snowpack and either a third year of drought or even a normal year, some form of water rationing would have had to have been imposed.
In other words what water is saved this summer going forward may prevent Manteca from having to severely cut back water use in 2023.
The key changes the council is considering are as follows:
*Allowed outdoor watering will be reduced from three to two days a week.
That means even-numbered addresses will be allowed to irrigate on Tuesday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses will be allowed to irrigate on Wednesday and Sunday. No irrigation will be allowed on Monday, Thursday, and Friday.
*Run-off from irrigating turf and such will essentially be prohibited.
The current rule allows for runoff into gutters for no more than five minutes. The new rule prohibits it from going onto sidewalks — public and private — streets, driveways, or adjoining property.
*Turf at commercial, industrial and institutional locations such as hospitals can no longer be irrigated with potable water except for carved out exceptions where it is used for recreation and such.
The new rules make exceptions for the golf course, Manteca Unified schools, and other locations allowed for under the state emergency order issued June 10.
*Prohibiting recreational activities that require a constant flow of water.
Staff referenced Slip ‘n’ Slides as one use that would be banned. It wasn’t clear whether that included large inflatable slides that are rented for kids’ parties that involve water flowing non-stop down the slides.
*Exempting City of Manteca golf course and facilities, Manteca Unified School District, private parks, and other landscaped areas greater than 4 acres from the scheduled watering days.
*Exempting landscape irrigation exclusively using drip or micro spray systems from the scheduled watering days.
*Restricting evaporative coolers without a recycled pump.
The city ordinance calls for a warning on the first offense, a $50 fine on the second offense, a $100 fine on the third offense, and a $250 fine on every offense thereafter.
During the 2015 drought, the city slapped $1,200 plus on one homeowner before they complied with the rules.
