Allen Matkins
ProfessionalsIndustries & ServicesNews & InsightsCareers

  • Professionals
  • Industries & Services
  • News & Insights
  • Careers
  • Offices
  • About
Manage Subscriptions

News & Insights

Legal Alert

City of San Diego Level 2 Drought Restrictions Will Impact Businesses and Residents

This alert applies to properties and businesses that operate in the City of San Diego.

Environmental & Natural Resources

5.29.09

On Monday, June 1, 2009, the City of San Diego (City) will enforce a Level 2 Drought Alert, which includes mandatory water restrictions such as limits on landscape irrigation, vehicle washing, and water feature operations. The Level 2 Drought Alert responds to cuts in water supplies available to the City. The cuts, which were made by the City's water wholesalers, the Metropolitan Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority, will take effect on July 1, 2009. The City is proactively taking steps to address the looming water cuts.

The following conservation practices, in addition to existing Level 1 Drought restrictions, will become mandatory on June 1st:

  • Landscape irrigation is limited to no more than 3 assigned days per week from June 1 – October 31. Apartments, condominiums and businesses can water on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and only before 10:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m.
  • Sprinkler irrigations systems are limited to no more than 10 minutes maximum per watering station per assigned day.
  • Vehicle washing is permitted only between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. with a hand-held container or a hand-held hose with a positive shut-off nozzle for quick rinses, or at any time on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash. Vehicle washing required for public health and safety is exempt.
  • Bird baths, koi ponds, and any ornamental water feature that uses a re-circulating pump and which does not shoot water into the air are permitted under Level 2. Water fountains that discharge into the air a jet or stream of water are banned under Level 2, although they may be operated for maintenance purposes. Any water feature that does not re-circulate water is banned.
  • Use of recycled or non-potable water is required for construction purposes when available, and construction operations will not use water obtained by a fire hydrant meter for uses other than normal construction activity.

Failure to comply with the above mandatory restrictions may result in penalties from the City, up to and including civil or criminal prosecution by the City Attorney and/or a shut off of water service. The City will allow customers to request a hardship variance from the Level 2 restrictions.

Other local water suppliers, including the Carlsbad Municipal Water District, the Vallecitos Water District and the Rainbow Municipal Water District, have adopted similar water restrictions. The most stringent example of conservation can be found within the boundaries of the Rainbow Municipal Water District, which will not provide any new potable water service or any new temporary or permanent meters, and will not issue any "will serve" letters, with limited exceptions.

How We Can Help:

For more information on the above measures, to get help complying with the restrictions or to seek assistance with a hardship variance, please feel free to contact us.

SUBSCRIBE

Authors

Jeffrey A. Chine

Partner

San DiegoT(619) 235-1525jchine@allenmatkins.com
Email Jeffrey A. Chine
Download Jeffrey A. Chine Vcard
Jeffrey A. Chine LinkedIn

Heather S. Riley

Partner

San DiegoT(619) 235-1564hriley@allenmatkins.com
Email Heather S. Riley
Download Heather S. Riley Vcard
Heather S. Riley LinkedIn

RELATED SERVICES

  • Land Use

  • Environmental & Natural Resources

News & Insights

Manage Subscriptions

Legal Alert

Effective Immediately: CEQA Reform Legislation

7.02.25

Press, Media, & Articles

Allen Matkins Elects Eight Lawyers to Partnership

7.01.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

6.27.25

Press, Media, & Articles

2025 Land Use, Environmental & Natural Resources Update

6.18.25

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

8.08.25

Legal Alert

White House Aims To Accelerate Environmental Permitting For Data Centers

8.06.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

8.01.25

Newsletter

Special Water Supply Edition: California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.25.25

Press, Media, & Articles

Allen Matkins Secures Major Federal Court Victory in High-Stakes Land Dispute

7.23.25

Event

CEQA Reform Legislation and the Impact of AB 130 and SB 131

7.23.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.18.25

Legal Alert

Project Applicants Can Now Pay for Expedited Federal Environmental Review Under NEPA

7.16.25

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.11.25

Press, Media, & Articles

Builder’s remedy could help address housing crisis in Oregon

7.03.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.03.25

Press, Media, & Articles

How CEQA Reforms Address California's Housing Squeeze

7.03.25

Legal Alert

Effective Immediately: CEQA Reform Legislation

7.02.25

Press, Media, & Articles

Allen Matkins Elects Eight Lawyers to Partnership

7.01.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

6.27.25

Press, Media, & Articles

2025 Land Use, Environmental & Natural Resources Update

6.18.25

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

8.08.25

Legal Alert

White House Aims To Accelerate Environmental Permitting For Data Centers

8.06.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

8.01.25

Newsletter

Special Water Supply Edition: California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.25.25

Press, Media, & Articles

Allen Matkins Secures Major Federal Court Victory in High-Stakes Land Dispute

7.23.25

Event

CEQA Reform Legislation and the Impact of AB 130 and SB 131

7.23.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.18.25

Legal Alert

Project Applicants Can Now Pay for Expedited Federal Environmental Review Under NEPA

7.16.25

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.11.25

Press, Media, & Articles

Builder’s remedy could help address housing crisis in Oregon

7.03.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

7.03.25

Press, Media, & Articles

How CEQA Reforms Address California's Housing Squeeze

7.03.25

Legal Alert

Effective Immediately: CEQA Reform Legislation

7.02.25

Press, Media, & Articles

Allen Matkins Elects Eight Lawyers to Partnership

7.01.25

Photo of mountains with trees and grass in the foreground

Newsletter

California Environmental Law & Policy Update

6.27.25

Press, Media, & Articles

2025 Land Use, Environmental & Natural Resources Update

6.18.25

View All
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Request Personal Data Information

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram

This publication is made available by Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP for educational purposes only to convey general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this website you acknowledge there is no attorney client relationship between you and Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP. This publication should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney applied to your circumstances. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Full Disclaimer