City of Pasadena announces one day per week outdoor watering schedule in effect Sept. 1

The City of Pasadena announced in an early morning statement Wednesday that the Pasadena Water and Power service area will be on a one-day-per-week outdoor irrigation schedule beginning Sept. 1.

Even-numbered street addresses can water on Mondays, and odd-numbered street addresses can water on Tuesdays, according to the watering schedule. Watering outside must begin before 9 a.m. or later than 6 p.m.

California is experiencing unprecedented drought conditions, with the last three years being the driest three years in state history.

According to the City, these conditions, combined with severe to exceptional drought conditions across the southwestern United States, are having a significant impact on water supplies, resulting in critically low storage levels on the State Water Project and Colorado River systems, as well as declining local groundwater levels.

PWP Interim General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger said:

“Every drop of water that we save now puts us in a better position in the future. Pasadena continues to be a leader in conservation, and residents and businesses are making great strides in water savings. Now is the time for customers to make long-term investments in water-use efficiency by making changes like removing thirsty turf and replacing it with drought-tolerant landscaping, and upgrading to more efficient outdoor watering systems.”

In order to complete an urgent repair in early September, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) requires a two-week emergency shutdown of an upstream MWD feeder.

During the shutdown, PWP will continue to receive water deliveries from MWD. However, because the supply source will be switched to severely limited State Water Project supplies during the shutdown, MWD is requesting a significant reduction in water use.

Pasadena residents and businesses are also encouraged to take the following steps:

• Continue to water trees by hand on a weekly basis.
• Replace turf with drought-tolerant and California native plants, which use less water and are more resilient to heat and drought.
• Adjust sprinklers and automated irrigation systems to run no more than one day per week.
• Add mulch around shrubs, flower beds and trees to help reduce water evaporation.
• Collect water while showering or from the kitchen sink in a bucket, and use it to water trees and shrubs.
• Optimize irrigation systems by retrofitting them to a drip irrigation system.
• Repair all leaks and adjust sprinkler spray to avoid water waste.
• Update all water fixtures and appliances to high-efficiency models.
• Use pool covers to reduce water loss.

More information on the MWD’s call for suspending outdoor watering during its emergency pipeline shutdown from Sept. 6-20 is available here:  mwdh2o.com .