Drought Regulations
In California, droughts are part of life, and so is using water wisely. Helix Water District and the other water utilities serving the San Diego region have worked together for decades to plan for water shortages. We encourage conservation and investment in new water resources. These steps help protect us against drought.
Permanent Water Efficiency Measures
On March 24, 2023, Governor Newsom rescinded the mandate requiring all water utilities to activate their Level 2 water conservation measures. However, the state continues its ban on watering decorative (non-functional) lawns at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, including homeowner association common areas. This does not apply to residential lawns, sports fields, school fields, or areas regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events.
Helix Water District’s board of directors voted to end its Water Shortage Response Level 2, effective April 6, 2023. The district’s Permanent water efficiency measures, listed below, remain in effect. These measures are best practices to make sure we're all water-wise, and they are things that most of our customers already do.
Over the last 30 years, Helix and the other water utilities in the San Diego region invested $3 billion in water conservation and new water supplies. We have the water we need, even in dry years like this one, for decades to come.
During this time, Helix customers have helped this effort by reducing water use by almost half through your commitment to using water efficiently. These important efforts have allowed us to successfully navigate drought periods and reduce our reliance on water imported from outside of the San Diego region.
Check out Save Water and Money for tips, rebates, and more to help you save water.
Helix Water Shortage Response Levels
To manage our water supply and prepare for future droughts, Helix's Board of Directors has adopted a Water Shortage Response Plan. We have six water shortage levels, with increasing restrictions, that we can enact during times of drought or decreasing water supplies - when we need extra conservation efforts. (Policies and Procedures Manual - Effective May 1, 2023 (PDF) Section 4.9).
| Level | Conservation Target | Water Use Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Zero Waste | Permanent |
| 1 | Up to 10% | Voluntary |
| 2 | Up to 20% | Mandatory |
| 3 | Up to 30% | Mandatory |
| 4 | Up to 40% | Mandatory |
| 5 | Up to 50% | Mandatory |
| 6 | Above 50% | Mandatory |
Helix has permanent water use efficiency measures that are always in effect. These measures are best practices to make sure we're all water-wise, and they are things that most of our customers already do.
Irrigation (all customers)
- Eliminate runoff from irrigation onto hardscape, streets, structures or adjacent properties. Water waste caused by overspray from sprinklers or low-head drainage is prohibited.
- Do not water for at least 48 hours after rain.
- Do not water turf on public street medians.
Other Outdoor Use (all customers)
- Do not wash down paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or patios, unless required for public safety or sanitation.
- Use recirculated water in ornamental fountains and water features.
- Wash vehicles using a hose with a positive shutoff nozzle and a bucket, and avoid washing vehicles during hot conditions when additional water is required.
Commercial Water Use
- Restaurants and other food service establishments may serve water upon request only.
- Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments must offer guests the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.
Level 1
Voluntary water use restrictions to achieve water savings up to 10%.
Irrigation (All Customers)
Irrigate before 10 am and after 6 pm only. Consider limiting irrigation using spray-type sprinklers to 10 minutes per day and adjusting run times as needed to avoid a runoff. If hand-watering, use a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle or a bucket.
Commercial Water Use
Irrigate nurseries and commercial landscapes before 10 am and after 6 pm only, but the following is permitted at any time:
- Use of a hand-held hose with a positive shut-off nozzle
- Use of a bucket
- Drip/micro-irrigation
- Irrigation of propagation beds
- Watering of livestock
Leaks
Repair water leaks within five days of notification from Helix unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.
Level 2
Mandatory water use restrictions to achieve water savings up to 20%. Level 1 voluntary water use restrictions become mandatory.
Irrigation (All Customers)
Limit irrigation to no more than 3 days per week. This limit does not apply to commercial growers or nurseries.
- Hand-watering is limited to the same daily schedule as irrigation systems.
- Limit irrigation to no more than 10 minutes per station per day. Weather-based controllers, drip, micro, stream rotors, and rotary nozzle sprinklers are exempt from the 10-minute per day limit.
Other Outdoor Use (All Customers)
Stop operating ornamental fountains and decorative water features unless recirculated wate
Level 3
Mandatory water use restrictions to achieve water savings up to 30%. Level 1 and 2 restrictions are mandatory.
Irrigation (All Customers)
Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to two days per week. During the months of November through May, landscape irrigation may be limited to no more than once per week. This limit does not apply to commercial growers or nurseries. Hand-watering is limited to the same schedule as irrigation systems.
Other Outdoor Use (All Customers)
Stop filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds, except as needed to sustain aquatic life of significant value that was actively managed in the water feature prior to Helix implementing a drought response level. Only wash vehicles at commercial carwashes that recycle their water, or with a high pressure/low volume wash system.
Development
Helix may deny requests for temporary water meters, permanent meters, and the ability to serve letters unless:
- A valid, unexpired building permit has been issued for the project
- The project is deemed necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare
- The applicant offsets the water demand of the project prior to the issuance of a new meter
Annexations
Helix may consider suspending annexations to its service area during a Level 3 water shortage response.
Water Allocations
Helix may establish a water allocation per customer that:
- Does not penalize customers for conservation to date
- Does penalize customers for water use in excess of their allocation
Level 4
Mandatory water use restrictions to achieve water savings up to 40%. Level 1, 2 and 3 restrictions are mandatory.
Irrigation (All Customers)
Limit residential and commercial landscape irrigation to one day per week. This limit does not apply to commercial growers or nurseries. Hand-watering is limited to no more than three days per week.
Other Outdoor Use (All Customers)
Stop filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds, except as needed to sustain aquatic life of significant value that was actively managed in the water feature prior to Helix implementing a water shortage response level.
Level 5
Mandatory water use restrictions to achieve water savings up to 50%. Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 restrictions are mandatory.
Irrigation (All Customers)
Stop all landscape irrigation except for the following:
- Crops
- Landscape products of nurseries and commercial growers
- Hand-watering of trees and shrubs as described in Level 4
- Irrigation specified by the Fire Marshal having jurisdiction over the property
- Irrigation for erosion control
- Irrigation of plants that are rare or essential to the well-being of rare animals
- Active landscapes including public parks, playing fields, daycare centers, school grounds, cemeteries, and golf course greens, provided that irrigation complies with the schedule in Level 3
- Watering of livestock
- Public works projects and actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects
Leaks (All Customers)
Repair leaks within 48 hours of notification from Helix unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.
New Connections (All Customers)
Helix may restrict new potable water service, temporary meters or permanent meters, and statements of immediate availability to serve or provide potable water service except when any of the following apply:
- A valid, unexpired building permit has been issued for the project.
- The project is necessary to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare.
- The applicant provides substantial and satisfactory evidence that water demands for the project will be offset prior to the provision of a new water meter.
Level 6
Mandatory water use restrictions to achieve water savings of more than 50%. Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 restrictions are mandatory.
Irrigation (All Customers)
Stop all landscape irrigation except for the following:
- Crops
- Landscape products of nurseries and commercial growers
- Irrigation specified by the Fire Marshal having jurisdiction over the property
- Irrigation for erosion control
- Irrigation of plants that are rare or essential to the well-being of rare animals
- Watering of livestock
- Public works projects and actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects