In early June, Governor Schwarzenegger declared the first statewide drought in 17 years, urging all Californians to reduce their water use.
The Governor’s drought declaration followed two years of extremely dry weather. March and April 2008 were among the driest in California’s recorded history. The Sierra Nevada snowpack, the key source of water for Bay Area communities, including the City of Mountain View, is well below normal levels.
The City’s two largest water suppliers, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), are asking customers to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 10 percent. These voluntary measures could become mandatory if water users do not immediately cut back on water use.
Continue to visit this website to stay informed about the regional water supply situation and the need for Mountain View water customers to take any additional voluntary or mandatory water conservation efforts.
Click here for additional information and suggestions on how to reduce your water use and achieve the 10 percent reduction goal.
Click here for information about the programs and services the City of Mountain View offers to residents and businesses to conserve water and save money.
10 Simple Steps to Reduce Water Use by 10%
Here are 10 simple steps you can take to reduce your water use and reach the 10 percent reduction goal:
- Turn off the water tap when you are brushing your teeth or doing the dishes. You will save 2.5 gallons every minute.
- Take shorter showers. Each minute of reduced shower time will save 2.5 gallons.
- Install aerators in your kitchen and bathroom faucets.
- Don’t allow the hose to run as you wash your car. Install an automatic shutoff nozzle on your hose. Or, take your car to a car wash that recycles water.
- Make sure your plumbing is not broken or defective. A running toilet can waste 2 gallons a minute. A faucet leaking a small stream can waste more than 2,000 gallons each month.
- Plant water-wise, drought-tolerant gardens and be sure your sprinklers are adjusted to water plants, not pavement.
- Download a copy of the Bay-Friendly Gardening Guide or learn more about gardening and landscaping classes offered by Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening by calling (510) 444-7645 or by clicking here.
- Call the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) at (650) 349-3000, or click here, for information about BAWSCA’s “Water Efficient Landscaping” classes.
- Operate your clothes washers and dish washers with full loads only, even if the machines have adjustable load settings.
- Replace old toilets, showerheads and clothes washers with new, higher-efficiency fixtures and appliances.
Other water saving tips are available by calling the City’s Water Resources Technician at (650) 903-6269 or by visiting the following websites:
Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD). The SCVWD provides approximately 10 percent of the City’s water supply, flood management to County residents, and partners with Mountain View and other cities to offer a number of water-related programs and services.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The SFPUC’s regional water system provides nearly 90 percent of the City’s water supply.
Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA). The City of Mountain View is a member of BAWSCA, an organization that represents the interests of 26 cities and water districts, and two private utilities that purchase water wholesale from the San Francisco regional water system. BAWSCA agencies provide water to 1.7 million people, businesses and community organizations in Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Water Saving Hero.
Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening.
Current Water Use Restrictions
Five water use restrictions are currently incorporated into the Mountain View City Code. These restrictions are enforced on a complaint basis.
Using hoses without an automatic shut-off device for washing automobiles or other vehicles, driveways, patios or sidewalks (MVCC Section 35.28.4.3).
Wasting potable water by allowing it to run off into gutters, sidewalks, streets or other hard-surfaced areas (MVCC Section 35.28.4.2).
Serving water in restaurants, except on request (MVCC Section 35.28.4.4).
Wasting water because of broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers, watering or irrigation systems (MVCC Section 35.28.4.1).
Installing single-pass cooling systems on new construction (MVCC Section 35.28.4.5).
Additional information regarding current water use restrictions is available by contacting the City’s Water Resources Technician at (650) 903-6269.
Residential Water Conservation Programs and Services
The City of Mountain View, in conjunction with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, offers residents a wide variety of programs and services to make it easy to conserve water and save money.
Click here to visit the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s website for more information regarding these and other residential water conservation programs and services, or call the City’s Water Resources Technician at (650) 903-6269.
Water-Wise House Calls. Trained water surveyors will come to your home or apartment to review your water usage, provide free low-flow showerheads and aerators (if needed) and suggest other ways for you to save water. Call (800) 548-1882 to schedule an appointment.
Free Low-Flow Shower Head and Aerator Distribution. Request free low-flow shower heads and kitchen and bath faucet aerators be sent to you. Call the City’s Water Resources Technician at (650) 903-6269 for more information.
Residential High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate Program. Buy a high-efficiency clothes washer and receive $125 to $200. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2554, for more information.
High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program. You may be eligible for a rebate up to $125 if you replace a toilet that uses 3.5 gallons per flush or more with an approved high-efficiency or dual flush toilet. Call (877) 874-8479 for more information.
Residential Irrigation System Hardware Rebate Program. This program offers rebates up to $1,000 to help pay for the cost of upgrading your irrigation hardware. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2554, for more information.
Residential Irrigation Water Softener Rebate Program. This program offers a $150 rebate for qualified replacement of your water softener. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2288, for more information.
Residential Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program. Replace high water use plants with low water use plants or permeable hardscape and receive a rebate up to $1,000. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2205, for more information.
Water Conservation Programs and Services for Businesses
The City of Mountain View works with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to offer businesses a wide variety of water conservation programs and services.
Click here to visit the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s website for more information regarding these and other water conservation programs and services for businesses, or call the City’s Water Resources Technician at (650) 903-6269.
Commercial Clothes Washer Rebate Program. Buy or lease high-efficiency clothes washers and receive as much as $400 per unit. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2707, for more information.
Free Commercial High-Efficiency Toilet Program. Qualifying businesses and schools may be eligible for free installation of high-efficiency toilets. Call (888) 520-9494 for more information.
Water-Efficient Technologies Program for Businesses. This program offers financial incentives to businesses that reduce their water usage. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2639, for more information.
Irrigation Technical Assistance Program for Businesses. Eligible businesses can have a landscape professional visit their site, evaluate their irrigation system and recommend additional water saving techniques. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2639, for more information.
Commercial/Business Irrigation System Hardware Rebate Program. This program offers rebates up to $4,000 to help pay for the cost of upgrading your irrigation hardware. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2639, for more information.
Commercial Water Softener Rebate Program. This program offers rebates up to $400 rebate for replacement of timer-based water softeners with demand-initiated-based water softeners. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2288, for more information.
Commercial Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program. This program offers a rebate up to $10,000 by replacing high-water-use plants with low-water-use plants or permeable hardscape. Call (408) 265-2607, extension 2205, for more information.
Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Installation Program. This program offers $300 to $1,000 rebates for installation of weather-based irrigation controllers that manage and change watering schedules based on soil conditions. Call (866) 685-2322 for more information.
