New Water Restrictions In Newport Beach: What To Know

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — The City of Newport Beach is getting water-wiser, after city council members approved a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage declaration at its June 28 meeting.

The order was made in response to a recent state order, which instructed urban water suppliers to limit outdoor irrigation and wasteful water practices. The order includes new water conservation measures for residents to follow.

“Following another consecutive dry year in California, the City has declared a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage to reduce water use and comply with state regulations,” Newport Beach Utilities Director Mark Vukojevic said in a statement. “We are asking our residents to partner with us in reducing water use, particularly outdoors where most water waste occurs.”

Under the heightened declaration, Newport Beach residents must follow the following:

• Water outdoor landscaping no more than three days a week.
• Limit water use to the amount used by their households in 2020.

According to the city, the following water uses are currently prohibited:

• Watering between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Landscape watering by automatic timers must be 10 minutes or less per sprinkler.
• Using potable water to wash sidewalks, driveways or hardscapes.
• Water leaks or malfunctions must be fixed within three days.
• No outdoor irrigation with 48 hours of a rain.

The new restrictions come as a response to the extreme and expanding drought conditions throughout the country, with all California counties operating under a state of emergency, the city said.

Newport Beach's Municipal Code was recently updated to include water conservation, as well as supply level regulations through six increasing levels of water conservation requirements based on the severity of the conditions, a city spokesperson said.

For more information, residents can visit the city's water quality and conservation website.