Measure designed to reduce water consumption used by
landscaping
Morgan Hill – The city council has adopted a water conservation ordinance to help prevent Morgan Hill’s growth from depleting the region’s water reserves.
Beginning next month, commercial and residential developers must adhere to new landscaping and water use regulations.
The ordinance, adopted unanimously by the council, requires:
- detailed landscaping and conservation plans
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hydrozoning, or grouping of plants according to water needs
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limits on water use
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limits on natural turf
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limits on types of plants used
Parks, school yards and other recreational areas are exempt from the ordinance. Existing landscapes are exempt unless they undergo major renovations.
Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy said the new rules will help protect the city from future droughts, such as the one suffered in South County in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
“As our population grows, we’re running out of water,” Kennedy said. “We’ve been fortunate in Santa Clara County to not have reached a crisis. We are going to have a drought again. This helps us prepare for the future and manage our water resources.”
