Santa Cruz Exempted From New State Water Restrictions

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The city of Santa Cruz has been spared from newly-implemented statewide water restrictions due to current water efficiency and supply, the city said Wednesday.

The State Water Resources Control Board recently approved new drought restrictions under Stage 2 of the state’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The new restrictions include higher water waste penalties, additional outdoor watering limits and a target usage of 55 gallons per person per day.

Santa Cruz has already surpassed that total, and storms in October and December have filled its reservoirs to near full levels, according to Water Director Rosemary Menard.

“Despite a mostly dry winter and spring, storms in October and December significantly improved storage in Loch Lomond Reservoir. While many reservoirs across the state are well below 50% capacity – some as low as 25% - Santa Cruz’s reservoir sits at 90% full,” Menard said in a statement. “That means even if we have another dry year, if we continue to be good stewards of our water resources and use our supply efficiently, we have enough to get us through next year.”

Because Santa Cruz uses only local sources, has adequate supply for the year, and has already outperformed the state’s gallons per capita per day target, it is now exempt from the Stage 2 restrictions.

However, that may be cold comfort to those who love green lawns: the city has introduced many of its own water restrictions that are similar in scope to what the state imposed. There is a ban on watering non-functional turf in commercial, industrial and institutional sectors, and a ban on outdooring watering between 10 and 6 a.m. Santa Cruz is also instituting a state rule limiting landscape irrigation to no more than two days per week.