Drought Regulations

Level 2 - Current Conservation Level

In response to drought conditions, the State Water Resources Control Board directed all water utilities in California to implement their Level 2 water conservation measures.

Helix’s Level 2 water conservation measures are listed below. We are pleased to report that most of our customers already use these measures in their landscapes.

Since the 1990s, Helix customers have reduced their water use by almost half through their commitment to using water efficiently. We appreciate your efforts and encourage everyone to keep up the good work.

In fact, 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. However, we can all do our part to help.

The state also banned watering of 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.

The state may require mandatory conservation if drought conditions worsen. Check out Save Water and Money for tips, rebates, and more to help you save water.

Helix Water Shortage Response Levels

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 (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

Permanent Water Efficiency Measures

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

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

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

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

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.

Level 5

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

Level 6

Mandatory water use restrictions to achieve water savings of more than 50%. Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 restrictions are mandatory.