Water Conservation Information
States Mandates Water Restrictions
The State of California continues to respond to an ongoing unprecedented drought. On March 28, 2022, Governor Newsom signed an Executive Order directing the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to consider adopting emergency regulations to increase water conservation. The Executive Order includes a request that the Board require urban water suppliers to implement Level 2 of their water shortage contingency plans, establish water shortage response actions for urban water suppliers that have not submitted water shortage contingency plans, taking into consideration model actions that the Department of Water Resources, and establish a ban on the irrigation of nonfunctional turf by entities in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors.
Responding to the current drought, California mandates adopted in May of 2022 require water suppliers to activate their water conservation plans adopted in summer 2021. On June 21st, 2022, the East Palo Alto City Council adopted a Resolution to Implement mandatory water use restrictions consistent with the SWRCB emergency regulations and Level 2 of the City of East Palo Alto Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP).
The adopted Water Shortage Contingency Plan can be found here. The demand reduction actions associated with Level 1 and Level 2 shortage reductions can be found on page 121-126 of the WSCP. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Engineering Department at engineering@cityofepa.org .
Fines and Penalties for Water Waste
In accordance with Section 864 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, the following fines and penalties are hereby established.
A Courtesy notice of the violation shall be issued upon the first violation.
Upon a second and subsequent violations, the violator shall be fined as set forth below and may be charged with an infraction.
| Violation | Fine |
| 1st | Courtesy Notice, No Fine |
| 2nd | $50.00 |
| 3rd | $100.00 |
| 4th | $200.00 |
| 5th | $500.00 |
Any person receiving a notice of a second or subsequent violation shall have a right to a hearing pursuant to Municipal Code section 13.24.300.
Hearings regarding violations will follow procedures outlined in the City of East Palo Alto municipal code, Section 13.24.300
Using less water is actually easy, and it can save you money, too. This page provides you with information and resources for turning your home into a water-saving household! Start with some great, easy-to-do water-saving tips, and then check out other links for even more water conservation ideas and actions.
- Household Water Saving Tips - for every part of your home
- California Degrees Guide to Water Conservation - ways to improve your home water efficiency
- H2ouse - easy ways to be truly water efficient
- Save Our Water - The Association of California Water Agencies
- Bay Area Water Conservation and Supply Agency - lots of water saving resources and links
- BAWSCA Recommended Seasonal Watering Schedule - follow these guidelines to save water in your yard
Is East Palo Alto Reaching Water Conservation Goals?
The City’s 26,000 residents have led by example in terms of water conservation and only use about 60 gallons per capita per day (inclusive of all uses in the City), among the lowest of any of the Wholesale Customers. The following chart provides a comparison of how the City of East Palo Alto is doing (as of 2020) when compared to surrounding water agencies.
Local Conservation Water Use Comparison
| City or Water Purveyor | R-GPCD* |
| East Palo Alto | 38.1 |
| Redwood City | 61.7 |
| California Water Service Company Mid Peninsula | 65.1 |
| Menlo Park | 67.2 |
| Palo Alto | 90 |
| Mid-Peninsula Water District | 69.8 |
| California Water Service Company Bear Gulch | 153.1 |
Water Board Report: 2019-2020 Water Conservation Report by Supplier
*R-GPD=Residential Gallons Per Person, Per day
