Water Conservation Program

Water Conservation has been a continuing concern in the Crestline Village Water District for many years. Realizing that the local water supplies were not adequate to meet its customers needs, the District began taking steps to secure supplemental water sources in the 1960's. The following Water Waste Prohibition was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Crestline Village Water District as part of Resolution No. 200 on March 11, 1982. This Water Waste Prohibition is still in effect.

On February 21, 1991, the Board of Directors of the Crestline Village Water District adopted Ordinance No. 29, which established a District Water Conservation Program. The program became effective March 1, 1991. Portions of Ordinance No. 29 were amended by Ordinance No. 30 on August 27, 1992.

The normal phase of water conservation is Phase I. This may change from time to time depending on the District's water supply. The District will notify all customers if there is a change to the water conservation phase.

The District does not have enough local water sources to supply all of the water needs of its customers. Occasionally, the State experiences severe droughts. During these times of drought, the District has had to purchase more than 80% of its water supply from the Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency (Agency). The Agency purchases water from the State Water Project at Silverwood Lake, treats it and then resells it to water districts and companies, such as the District.

There have been occasions when the State has advised the Agency that they will only receive a portion of the requested amount of water for that year. The Agency in turn has advised its customers that a limited amount of water will be available. In 1991, the District was advised that it would only be able to purchase 95% of the water that was purchased during the same months in 1990. The District was also advised that available water might be cut by 50% or more during that year.

In addition to possible restrictions on the amount of imported water available, the District's local water supplies, local wells that supplies the rest of the District's water needs, decreases during dry years.

The Board adopted Ordinance No. 29 in order to (1) protect the health, safety, and welfare of the District's customers, (2) assure the maximum beneficial use of the District's water supplies, and (3) ensure that there will be sufficient water supplies to meet the basic needs of human consumption, sanitation and fire protection.

Following is a summary of the District's Water Conservation Program. The complete text is available at the District's office for review.

No consumer will make, cause, use or permit the use of water received from the District for any purpose in a manner contrary to any provision of this program or in an amount in excess of the use permitted by the conservation phase in effect.

Each customer is required to install a shut-off valve on the customer's side of the meter, outside the meter box, to allow on-site plumbing to be drained as necessary to prevent loss of water from frozen or broken pipes. It is the customers' responsibility to maintain their on-site plumbing and operate these valves as necessary to prevent water loss, especially during periods of freezing conditions when the premises are unoccupied.

Each Phase of Water Use Reduction is divided into three areas. (1) The first area defines the basic allocation of water for each customer. The customer may request an increase in the basic allocation as provided for in Section 3 of the Ordinance, which is described later in this summary. (2) The second area defines the surcharge for water used in excess of the basic allocation as compared to the basic rate. As of July 1993, the basic rate is $3.75 per 100 cubic feet of water used. The basic rate is adjusted, as needed, from time to time by the Board of Directors. (3) The third area defines prohibited uses of water for each phase. Any prohibited use in each phase is also prohibited in each more restrictive phase.

Phases II through VI are designed to achieve a percentage reduction of the amount of water used by all, and every consumer should eliminate the waste and non-essential use of potable (safe for drinking) water from the District in an effort to aid the District in achieving the reduction.

Phase		Basic Allocation (Per Month)	Surcharge (Times Basic Rate)
I	- General	1,300 cubic feet	1 1/2 times
II	- 10% Reduction	1,200 cubic feet	2 times
III	- 20% Reduction	1,100 cubic feet	2 1/2 times
IV	- 30 % Reduction	900 cubic feet	3 times
V	- 40% Reduction	800 cubic feet	3 1/2 times
VI	- 50% Reduction	700 cubic feet	4 times

Phase I - General Reduction: Every consumer shall eliminate the waste of potable water from the District in an effort to conserve District water supplies.

(a) The washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots and all other hard-surfaced areas by direct hosing, except as otherwise necessary to prevent or eliminate materials dangerous to the public health and safety.

(b) The escape of water through breaks, leaks or dripping faucets within the consumer's plumbing or private distribution system for any substantial period of time within which such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered or corrected. Each break or leak should be corrected within 48 hours of the time that the consumer discovers or is notified of such a break or leak.

(c) The use of running water during freezing weather to prevent the freezing of water lines. Water lines should be protected by other means.

(d) Using a hose to wash cars, trucks, boats, trailers or other vehicles unless it has a spring-release shut-off nozzle.

(e) Lawn or garden watering, or any other irrigation or water use, in a manner which results in water runoff or over spray of the areas being watered. Every consumer is deemed to have under control at all times its water distribution lines and facilities, and to know the manner and extent of its water use and any runoff. Any irrigation, of landscaping installed after the date that this phase is effective, is prohibited.

(g) Any water use that results in the runoff of water in the street, gutters, driveways or other waterways.

(a) The draining and refilling of a pool or spa unless necessary for significant health or safety reasons.

(b) Using water for decorative fountains or the filling of decorative lakes or ponds, except when reclaimed or recycled water is used.

(b) Sewer or storm system flushing for normal maintenance, and fire department training, except as approved in writing by the District.

(d) The washing of motor vehicles, trailers, boats or other vehicles by hosing, or by use of water directly from faucets or other outlets, except:

(1) Washing such vehicles from water contained in a bucket or container not exceeding 3 gallon capacity; and

(2) Washing such vehicles at commercial vehicle washing facilities operated at fixed locations, which employ water recycling equipment.

(e) Lawn or garden watering, or any other irrigation, beyond what is needed to sustain plant life.

(a) The use of potable water for any non-essential outdoor use. Essential uses of potable water are uses necessary for the health, sanitation, fire protection or safety of the consumer or public.

Exceptions to increase the amount of water in the basic allocation may be granted by the District Manager or his designee, upon written request for the following reasons:

(4) Unnecessary and undue hardship to the consumer or the public, including, but not limited to, adverse economic impacts.

Exceptions to prohibited uses may be granted by the General Manager or his designee, upon written request if it is found and determined that failure to do so would cause an unnecessary and undue hardship to the consumer or the public, including, but not limited to, adverse economic impacts, or; that failure to due so would cause an emergency condition affecting the health, sanitation, fire protection or safety of the consumer or the public.

The District will monitor and evaluate the projected supply and demand for water by its customers. The Board of Directors, by resolution, will order that the appropriate phase of water use reduction be implemented. The effective date of the phase change will be published once in a local newspaper and a notice will be mailed to all property owners and customers of record within ten 10 days after the adoption date of the resolution changing the phase of water use reduction. Each phase will remain in effect until a different phase is initiated and made effective. The District may order more than a single phase change at a time.

Any consumer who violates the provisions of the Water Use Reduction Phases may be cited by the District or its representatives.

(A) Excess Use. When the requirements of Phase II through VI are in effect, any consumer using more than 125% of the basic allocation, for any billing period, will be warned that such use is considered waste of water, and that a reduction in use is required to avoid being subject to the enforcement provisions of section B below.

(B) (1) First Violation. Any consumer found by the District to be violating the regulations and restrictions on water use will receive a written warning, which describes the penalty for subsequent violations.

(2) Second Violation. In the event of a second violation, the District may add a single $50 charge to the next water bill of the premises for which or upon which the violation occurred.

(3) Third Violation. In the event of a third violation, the District will discontinue the water service pursuant to the District's Rules and Regulations and the appropriate reinstatement charge will apply ($150). Installation of a flow restrictor may be required before service is reinstated. If installation of a flow restrictor is required, the District may add a charge to the next water bill of the premises that covers the cost of the installation.

A new service connection will only be granted upon the following conditions being met:

A. Equipped with ultralow-flush toilets and low-flow showers, faucets and fixtures.

Information regarding required devices and landscaping may be obtained at the District's office.

It is the responsibility of each property owner to notify any person or persons that use their premises, including, but not limited to, weekend rentals, multi-unit apartments, motels and commercial buildings, of any water use restrictions currently in effect. The District will mail a notice to all property owners and customers of record within 10 days of the adoption date of a water use reduction phase change.

It is unlawful for any person to operate, damage or tamper with the District's water meter, valves and appurtenances. Such unlawful use is governed by the District's Rules and Regulations for Water Service.

The revenue collected by the District, as a result of consumer use of water in excess of the basic allocation and the charges added to consumer bills as a result of enforcement actions by the District, will be deposited into the operating fund as reimbursement for the District's costs and expenses of administration and enforcement of this ordinance, and to provide funding to promote, encourage and implement water conservation programs.

In addition to adopting this Water Conservation Program, the Board also approved a change from bi-monthly billing to monthly billing. This action will help each customer and the District to keep better track of the amount of water used and to respond more quickly to a change in the Phase of Water Use Reduction.

	PO Box 3347, 777 Cottonwood Drive, Crestline, CA 92325-3347 Telephone: (909) 338-1727 «» FAX: (909) 338-4080 Web site: www.cvwater.com «» E-mail: cvwater@cvwater.com Serving water to the Crestline and Lake Gregory area since 1954. Water Conservation Program Summary