15.17.070 Water waste prohibitions.
The purpose of this section is to promote water conservation and efficient use of potable water furnished by the city of Petaluma by eliminating nonessential water use and intentional or unintentional water waste when a reasonable alternative solution is available and by prohibiting the use of water equipment that is wasteful.
A. Nonessential Uses Defined and Prohibited. No customer of the city shall use or permit the use of potable water from the city for residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, agricultural, or other purpose for the following nonessential uses:
1. The washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots and other hard-surfaced areas by direct hosing not equipped with a shutoff nozzle, except as may be necessary to properly dispose of flammable or other dangerous liquids or substances and/or to prevent or eliminate materials dangerous to the public health and safety;
2. The escape of water through breaks or leaks within the customer’s plumbing or private distribution system for any substantial period of time within which such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered and corrected. It shall be presumed that a period of one hour to stop the flow of water from such break or leak after the consumer discovers such a break or leak or receives notice from the city, and seventy-two hours to correct such break or leak after the consumer discovers such a break or leak or receives notice from the city, is a reasonable time period;
3. Irrigation in a manner or to the extent that allows runoff of water or over-spray of the areas being irrigated. Every customer is deemed to have their irrigation system under control at all times, to know the manner and extent of their water use and any runoff and overspray, and to employ available alternatives to apply irrigation water in an efficient manner;
4. Application of potable water to outdoor landscapes during and within forty-eight hours after measurable rainfall;
5. Washing cars, boats, trailers, or other vehicles, equipment and machinery directly with a hose not equipped with a hose-end shutoff nozzle;
6. Using water for non-recycling water features;
7. Using water for single pass evaporative cooling systems for air conditioning in all connections installed after July 1, 2001, unless required for health or safety reasons;
8. Using water for new non-recirculating conveyor car wash systems; self-service car wash spray wands shall emit no more than three gallons of water per minute;
9. Using water for new non-recirculating industrial clothes washing systems;
10. Dedicated irrigation accounts exceeding the allocated water budget by more than twenty percent in any billing period.
B. Pressure Regulation. A pressure-regulating valve shall be installed and maintained by the consumer if static service pressure at the meter exceeds eighty pounds per square inch. The pressure-regulating valve shall be located between the meter and the structure valve, and set at not more than sixty pounds per square inch when measured at the structure valve. This requirement may be waived if the consumer presents evidence satisfactory to the city that high pressure is necessary in the design and that no water will be wasted as a result of high-pressure operation.
C. Swimming Pool and Spa Covers. Private outdoor swimming pools and spas are to be covered during non-business hours or while not in use. Public outdoor swimming pools and spas are to be covered if the swimming pool or spa is scheduled to be unused for more than one day. A public pool that is closed for the season does not require covering.
D. Exempt Water Uses. All water use associated with the operation and maintenance of fire suppression equipment or employed by the city for water quality flushing and sanitation purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. Use of water supplied by a private well or from properly authorized recycled water, gray water, or rainwater catchment system is also exempt.
(Ord. 2579 NCS §2, 2016; Ord. 2316 NCS §3 (part), 2009.)