​Marin Water Enacts Additional Restrictions: Report

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin Water earlier this week enacted additional restrictions banning new developments from using drinking water to irrigate landscaping, The Marin Independent Journal reports.

The Board of Directors approved the measure Tuesday amid historic drought conditions in Marin and most of the state according to the report.

The ordinance went into effect Wednesday according to the report.

It includes some exceptions according to the report, which notes that new developments that don’t have access to recycled water can install landscaping but must agree not to use potable water while Marin is under a drought emergency.

The district declared a drought in mid-February and launched a public awareness campaign asking customers to conserve water by voluntarily cutting back on irrigation, not washing vehicles, and conserving water indoors.

The MMWD serves central and southern Marin and provides water to around 190,000 residents.

The district in April enacted bans on washing vehicles at home, power washing homes and businesses, among others.

A restriction limiting golf courses to watering tees and greens went into effect in May.

Persistent warm, dry weather lowered Marin Water's reservoir storage capacity to 52 percent —the lowest level in nearly 40 years.

Storage levels for this time of year are typically more than 90 percent.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor's most recent reporting, the vast majority of California was in an "extreme drought" and Marin County along with most of the Bay Area is experiencing "exceptional drought" conditions.

As of July 20, 94.75 percent of California was in a severe drought, 85.74 percent of the state in an extreme drought and 33.42 percent of the state is experiencing "exceptional drought" conditions, the agency said.

Read more in The Marin Independent Journal