Drought restrictions eased
3-day-per-week watering now allowed
–On July 19, following an easing of state drought restrictions, the Paso Robles City Council voted to allow watering of residential and commercial landscaping for three days per week. The community has been under two-day-per-week watering restrictions since June 1, 2015.
Although the ordinance won’t take effect officially until Aug. 19, city staff will no longer enforce the two day restrictions. The community has been successful at complying with the state’s drought restrictions over the past year, saving over 700 million gallons of water. That is enough water to cover one acre of ground about 2,148 feet deep. Further, the community showed their commitment to good stewardship of water by making these savings without the penalty ordinances that many other communities put in place.
Under the new state drought restrictions, the community will need to keep our water use levels below the 2013 usage. As long as the community abides by the three-day-per-week watering program, and doesn’t waste water, the city should be able to remain in compliance with the state mandate.