County enacts fines for repeat water wasters

It’s three strikes and you’re fined in Santa Clara County after the Board of Supervisors passed a new county water conservation ordinance at the Feb. 10 meeting.
In response to the state’s drought now entering into its fourth year, county officials have coordinated with Santa Clara Valley Water District personnel to begin fining water wasters in the unincorporated areas, after three initial contacts are made with those in violation of water restrictions. Additionally, a warning letter will be sent from the county following the third offense.
The new ordinance goes into effect March 12.
“We’re trying to raise awareness and educate people to conserve water,” said District 1 Supervisor Mike Wasserman. “If everyone does their part, we can do this (reach 20 percent water retention). If this drought continues, we have another level of problem.”
Wasserman noted that no extra staff will be hired to enforce the new water restrictions, but that SCVWD officials will make the first three contacts with any reported violators. They are instructed to educate the water waster and provide them with resources to help resolve the problem. After the third time within a 12-month time period, the official will also inform the county, which will send a written warning via the Planning & Development Code Enforcement Division.
“The goal of this whole thing is to create awareness,” Wasserman added. “The more the public is aware of what’s going on, the more they can self regulate, the more they can save.”
A fourth offense constitutes a $100 fine. A fifth offense will cost the water waster $200 and any subsequent violations will be $500 each, according to the Feb. 10 announcement.
“I’m glad to see the county is finally adopting an ordinance. It’s taken a long time,” said SCVWD Director Dennis Kennedy. “We’re going into our fourth year (of the drought). Although we had some good storms, we need eight to 10 more storms like that before we’d be out of the drought. But that doesn’t look likely.”
The new county ordinance, which covers residential water conservation and water users in unincorporated areas, prohibits the following:
application of water to outdoor landscapes in a way that causes runoff;
use of a hose that dispenses water to wash a vehicle unless the hose is equipped with an automatic shutoff valve
application of water to paved areas and hardscapes such as driveways, parking lots and sidewalks;
use of water in a decorative water feature unless the water is recirculated;
failure to fix outdoor water leaks within seven days of county notification; and
use of water to outdoor landscapes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. unless by use of a bucket or hose with an automatic shutoff valve, or low-flow irrigation system.
Those who use recycled water, greywater or rainwater utilization system are exempt from the ordinance, according to county officials.
In Feb. 2014, the SCVWD set a countywide 20 percent water use reduction target to ensure adequate groundwater reserves for 2015. The county saved 13 percent throughout 2014, Wasserman said, and therefore extra measures are being taken.
Water waste complaints in the unincorporated areas can be made by calling the drought response hotline at (408) 630-2000, email at

dr*****@va*********.org











, or by using a free app for smartphones available at valleywater.org/avwapp/.
“We’re simply being consistent with cities’ policy so there’s one message regardless of where you live,” Wasserman said. “We are in the fourth year of a drought. The situation is serious and everyone needs to do whatever they possibly can do to conserve water.”
Kennedy, who represents South County on the SCVWD boar, said water levels remain well below normal for this time of year with imported water at 15 percent, reservoirs at 70 percent (or about 700,000 acre feet below normal) and the Sierra snowpack at about 20 percent.
County water conservation/waste policy
First offense: SCVWD provides education/resources to help responsible party identify local water restrictions, reduce water use and eliminate water waste.
Second offense: Same as first offense.
Third offense: County Planning & Development Code Enforcement Division will issue written warning along with copy of county ordinance code.
Fourth offense: $100 fine
Fifth offense: $200 fine
Subsequent offenses: $500 fine