St. Helena Water Emergency: City Enacts Phase I Measures

ST. HELENA, CA — Citing "extremely low" annual rainfall in St. Helena and the potential for a multi-year drought, the city of St. Helena has moved into the first phase of a water emergency.

The St. Helena City Council adopted a resolution Tuesday, making an official determination that conditions requiring the establishment of a water emergency exist. As a result, the council directed city staff to enact Phase I Water Emergency regulations, meaning that as of July 1, city water customers must follow certain conservation measures. There will also be changes to utility billing.

Some key factors in the city's decision included extremely low annual rainfall, a forecast for a potential multi-year drought, and the current Bell Canyon Reservoir level of 60 percent, according to Martin Beltran, Public Works management analyst for the city of St. Helena.

"Since July, the city’s official rain gauge registered 20 inches of rain," Beltran said in a news release Friday. "Bell Canyon Reservoir which is one of the city’s three water sources is currently at 60-percent capacity. It is projected that in November it will drop into the 33- to 40-percent range."

Here are the mandatory Phase I Water Emergency conservation measures city water customers must follow:

1. All customers must be in compliance with all water conservation requirements of Section 13.04.221(B) (Water Conservation). If a customer is found to be out of compliance with any part of Section 13.04.221 or provisions of these water shortage emergency requirements, the customer must immediately stop the water waste by installing the appropriate water-saving devices in their plumbing, appliances, or improvements, or take other such actions to bring about full compliance.

2. All customers are prohibited from expanding or installing landscaping or appliances that will increase the overall water use of the property. Replacement of existing appliances, landscaping, plumbing, or improvements shall be allowed only if the change can be documented to the satisfaction of the director of public works to result in more efficient water-using fixtures or systems.

3. Customers shall cease the operation of air-cooling outdoor misting systems using treated water supplied by the City, unless on a timer.

4. Outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf with potable water is limited to no more than two days a week. Outdoor irrigation is allowed on Sunday and Thursday.

5. No person shall use potable water to irrigate landscaping between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

6. Irrigation with potable water of landscapes outside of newly constructed homes and buildings shall be in a manner consistent with regulations or other requirements established by the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development. If irrigation systems are installed as a part of new development, they shall be drip or microspray irrigation systems or a system determined by the director of Public Works or designee to be more efficient.

7. Draining and refilling of swimming pools shall be permitted only as needed for the purpose of pool repair or to correct a severe chemical imbalance. Draining and refilling of decorative ponds and lakes shall be permitted only as needed for the purpose of lining the bottom to prevent absorption.

8. All new or replacement industrial and commercial clothes washers shall be high efficiency as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All new or expanded car washing facilities shall include water-saving methods.

9. In accordance with Section 864 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations or any successor regulation, the taking of any action prohibited in this subsection B, in addition to any other applicable civil or criminal penalties (including the penalties set forth in Sections 13.04.230 and 13.04.310), is an infraction, punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each day in which the violation occurs.

Utility Billing Changes Under Phase I Water Regulations

The 2017 adopted water rate structure includes a drought period surcharge that begins once the city implements Phase I water regulations. Drought rates are only applied to use charges and do not affect service (or base) charges. Drought rates are 6-percent higher than non-drought rates because, during drought years, the cost of water per 1,000 gallons is 6-percent higher than during non-drought years.

In addition, leak adjustments will not be granted when the city is in Phase I or higher water emergency, or subject to water-use limitations by the state.

City staff is expected to present up-to-date water data and forecasts to the City Council on a monthly basis.