Merced adds restrictions to water use

The Merced City Council unanimously approved changes to the city’s water ordinance this week, adding more restrictions for residents and businesses.

The new rules, which went into effect immediately, prohibit residents to water their lawns within 48 hours of “measurable rainfall” – but how much is considered measurable is yet to be defined. Residents also are allowed to wash their cars, using hose nozzles, only on the days they are allowed to water their lawns.

The council approved the changes Monday during its regular meeting.

Since April 2014, homes with even-numbered addresses have been allowed to water only on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while odd-numbered homes can do so on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Businesses, including hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars, will be allowed to serve drinking water only upon customer request. Hotels and motels are now also responsible for providing guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily. The hotels are to display notice of this option in each guestroom, according to an administrative report prepared for the City Council.

Leah Brown, a water conservation specialist with the city, explained that the tighter restrictions were necessary for Merced to stay in compliance with the state’s plan to better manage water and habitat during the drought.

The state is mandating that Merced cut water use by 36 percent compared with the city’s use in 2013. Last month, the City Council also voted to purchase water meters for about 10,800 homes.

“Meters are going in, and hopefully this will help people become aware of their usage,” Brown said. “It’s also important for residents to remember that just because we can water two days a week doesn’t mean we should.”

Last month, the State Water Resources Control Board said Merced reported a 15 percent decrease in water use in March compared with the same month in 2013. Merced, as well as Atwater, Modesto, Oakdale and Ripon, face some of the strictest cutbacks with a 36 percent mandate.

City Manager John Bramble said the city is working with the Merced Master Gardeners program to set up classes for residents.

“We want to remind people to make sure their sprinkler system is well-maintained,” Bramble said. “The more they take care of their own sprinkler system, the better off we’ll all be.”

Bramble said the city and the Master Gardeners program will have educational booths set up at the Merced County Fair, which starts June 10.

The City Council will come back at a later date to discuss the possibility of limiting outdoor irrigation to no more than one day per week between Nov. 15 and March 15, 2016.

This story was originally published June 2, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Merced adds restrictions to water use."