WATER WATCH
- Share via
The following is a list of mandatory conservation measures that cities and water districts with policing powers have enacted. It does not include rate increases imposed by water districts for excess use.
“Restricted” means watering is not allowed during daytime hours and, in most cases, only every other day, based on odd/even dates corresponding with odd/even addresses.
There are some exceptions to the restrictions and prohibitions. For example, lawn watering is allowed if a hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle, a bucket or a drip-irrigation system is used. Fountains may be operated if the system uses recycled water, and water may be served in restaurants if a customer requests it.
The Orange County Water District and Municipal Water District of Orange County have established a water information center. People with questions about specific restrictions and prohibitions in one or more cities or who want to learn more about water-saving practices can call the center’s hot line at (800) 794-9287.
Listed measures have been enacted. All phone numbers are 714 area code unless otherwise noted.
City: Anaheim For More Information, Phone: 991-3747 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Pool/Spa Refilling Excessive Water Runoff
City: Brea For More Information, Phone: 990-7680 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement
City: Buena Park For More Information, Phone: 523-3919 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Excessive Water Runoff
City: Costa Mesa * For More Information, Phone: 631-1205 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Cypress For More Information, Phone: 229-6745 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Dana Point ** For More Information, Phone: 248-3560 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Excessive Water Runoff
City: Fountain Valley For More Information, Phone: 965-4493 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Fullerton For More Information, Phone: 738-3177 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Excessive Water Runoff
City: Garden Grove For More Information, Phone: 741-5395 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Huntington Beach For More Information, Phone: 536-5599 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Excessive Water Runoff
City: Irvine * For More Information, Phone: 476-7650 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: La Habra For More Information, Phone: (213) 905-9701 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Pool/Spa Refilling Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement
City: La Palma For More Information, Phone: 523-1140 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Pool/Spa Refilling Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement
City: Laguna Beach ** For More Information, Phone: 497-3311 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Laguna Niguel ** For More Information, Phone: 643-1610 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Excessive Water Runoff
City: Los Alamitos For More Information, Phone: 827-8670 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Mission Viejo ** For More Information, Phone: 582-2489 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Excessive Water Runoff
City: Newport Beach For More Information, Phone: 644-3379 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Pool/Spa Refilling Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Excessive Water Runoff
City: Orange For More Information, Phone: 288-2475 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Washing Down Pavement Excessive Water Runoff
City: Placentia For More Information, Phone: 993-8117 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: San Clemente For More Information, Phone: 361-8259 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Pool/Spa Refilling Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement
City: San Juan Capistrano * For More Information, Phone: 493-1515 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering Car Washing * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement
City: Santa Ana For More Information, Phone: 565-4018 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering * PROHIBITED: Operating Fountains Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement
City: Seal Beach For More Information, Phone: 828-8550 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Stanton For More Information, Phone: 220-2220 * RESTRICTED: Landscape Watering * PROHIBITED: Water Served in Restaurants Washing Down Pavement Car Washing Excessive Water Runoff
City: Tustin For More Information, Phone: 544-8890 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Villa Park For More Information, Phone: 538-0079 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Westminster For More Information, Phone: 898-3311 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
City: Yorba Linda * For More Information, Phone: 777-3018 * RESTRICTED: None * PROHIBITED: None
* Water in these cities is provided by one water district that has authority to pass water restriction ordinances. Costa Mesa is served by the Mesa Consolidated Water District, Irvine by the Irvine Ranch Water District, San Juan Capistrano by the Capistrano Valley Water District and Yorba Linda by the Yorba Linda Water District.
** These cities are served by two or more water districts that have authority to pass water restriction ordinances. The restrictions are limited to customers of the El Toro and Moulton Niguel water districts. To find out which water district serves your area, contact the city at the number listed.
Source: Individual cities
Ground-Water Production Trends
The amount of ground water produced in Orange County from all sources decreased 8%in the 1989-90 fiscal year, the most recent year for which information was available. . However, county officials have projected an increase for the fiscal year just ended. Final figures are not yet available.
This water is added to the ground-water supply and is basically free because it comes from natural sources or existing systems. Sources include rainfall, the Santa Ana River and waste-water reclamation projects. It also includes recharge-water that seeps into the ground-water supply after use and is filtered to be used again-from local users and operators.
Here is the production trend, in acre-feet-an acre-foot being equal to 325,900 gallons, or about enough to supply a family of five for one year.
Production in Acre-Feet In thousands 1986: 271 1987: 276 1988: 265 1989: 275 1990: 252 1991*: 289
* estimate, actual figures not available to date.
Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Source: Orange County Water District
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.