Outdoor Watering will be Prohibited During MWP Shutdown

Freeway signs like this one in Pasadena on the 210 Freeway and Allen have been warning us for months about limiting watering our gardens during the drought. – Photo by Terry Miller

By J. Shadé Quintanilla

Pasadena residents will soon have to put watering their lawns on hold as the city prepares for a major shut off from one of its main water suppliers. On Monday, the City Council approved to temporarily implement an emergency restrictive water conservation plan that will prohibit outdoor watering for about two weeks.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWP)–Pasadena’s main water supplier–is currently constructing a new ozonation disinfection system at their Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in La Verne, California. To make the switchover to the new system, MWP will suspend its water service to Pasadena and other cities from February 29 to March 9. According to Pasadena Water & Power Interim General Manager Sherry Thomas, the implementation to the new system will make MWP’s ozone treatment facilities “one of the most updated treatment facilities” in the country.

In order to ensure enough water during the shutdown, the city is switching from a Level 2 Water Shortage Plan to a Level 4 Water Shortage Plan. The Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) found that the city, on average, supplies about 23 to 24 million gallons per day during the month of March. Without a water source from the MWP, which supplies about 60 percent of Pasadena’s water, the city will have to rely on local wells, reservoirs and conservation.

With reservoirs that can only supply 77 million gallons of water during the shutdown, the city will implement the highly restrictive water plan to reduce the city’s daily water supply to 16 to 17 million gallons per day. The city will also implement Level 4 restrictions a few days before the shutdown from Feb. 25 to March 10 in order to leave a one to two day cushion in case the switchover goes longer than expected.

Under the new water shortage plan, all outdoor watering, including hand watering, will be prohibited throughout the city. The restriction will apply to private residences, as well as parks, golf courses and schools. Installations of new water services and the issuance of meters will also be put on hold. Additionally, the city has vowed not to conduct water quality flushing, new service connections and fire flow testing.

Apart from following the watering restrictions, PWP suggests residents make other changes to conserve the city’s limited water supply. These suggestions include showering for five minutes or less, washing full loads in washing machines, holding off on car washes and remembering not to run the faucet while cleaning dishes.

This is the third water shutdown Pasadena has experienced since 2011. With two successful shutdowns under their belt, PWP is hoping this one will also go as smoothly.

“During the last MWD Shutdown in 2013, a Level 4 Shortage Plan was implemented and the city received tremendous compliance from the community. We are asking for the same support this year,” the PWP wrote on their website.

Pasadena will switch back to its less restrictive Level 2 Water Shortage plan once MWP restores its water supply.

Rain may have come to Southern California, but the area is still in a severe drought and watering is strictly regulated. – Courtesy Photo

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