Permanent Water Conservation Requirements Effective May 19, 2015

The following water conservation requirements shall apply to all persons within the City of Manhattan Beach:

A.      Landscape

1.       Watering Hours.  No lawn or landscape area shall be spray irrigated between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM on any day. This subsection shall not apply to any drip irrigation system, irrigation system maintenance, leak repair or new planting of low water usage plants or if reclaimed water is utilized as permitted by law.

2.       Irrigation Overspray and Runoff.  Water shall not spray or flow to any impermeable private or public surface, including but not limited to, walkways, driveways, sidewalks, alleys, streets, or storm drains.

3.       Water Drift.  No sprinklers, fountains or other water features shall be operated when winds are so high as to create water drift causing runoff or flow to any impermeable private or public surface, including, but not limited to, walkways, driveways, sidewalks, alleys, streets, or storm drains.

4.       Over-Irrigation.  It is prohibited to water or irrigate lawns, turf or other landscape beyond saturation causing runoff or flow to any impermeable private or public surface, including, but not limited to, walkways, driveways, sidewalks, alleys, streets, or storm drains.

5.       Irrigation During/After a Rain Event.  It is prohibited to water or irrigate any landscaping within 48 hours of a one-tenth of an inch (0.10") or greater rainfall event.

 B.      Cleaning.  No person shall:

1.       Use water to wash, clean or clear any sidewalks, streets, walkways, patios, driveways, alleys or parking areas, whether paved or unpaved, with a hose connected to a domestic water source unless through use of a water broom or pressure washer.

2.       Wash or clean with water any vehicle, including, but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or unmotorized, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hose equipped with a positive action quick release shutoff valve or nozzle. This subsection shall not apply to any commercial car washing facility which utilizes a recycling system to capture or reuse water.

C.      Water Features and Water Recreation Facilities.  No person shall:

1.       Fill any water feature such as a fountain, pond, lake or water display unless the water feature is constructed with a water recirculation system.

2.       Fill any water recreation facility such as a hot tub, spa, permanent swimming or wading pool unless the water recreation facility is constructed, installed or equipped with a cover to reduce water loss due to evaporation.

D.      Waste, Ponding and Leaks.  No person shall:

1.       Cause, permit or allow water to leak from any exterior or interior pipe, hose or plumbing fixture of any kind whatsoever.

2.       Cause, permit or allow water to flow from any source on private or public property into gutters, streets, alleys or storm drains, except as a result of rainfall or excessive groundwater from a private sump pump or from a nonpotable source of water.

3.       Cause, permit or allow water from any source to pond on private or public property, except as a result of rainfall.

4.       Cause, permit or allow water to flow from any source on private or public property without beneficial use.

E.      Eating and Drinking Establishments.

1.       All eating and drinking establishments of any kind whatsoever including, but not limited to, any restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria, bar or club, whether public or private, shall only provide drinking water to any person upon receipt of an express request.

2.       All food service businesses shall install water conserving pre-rinse nozzles.

F.       Hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfast.

1.       All hotels, motels and bed and breakfast establishments shall provide customers the option of choosing not to have towels laundered daily.  Each establishment shall prominently display notice of this option in each bathroom and sleeping room using clear easily understood language.

2.       All guest room toilets shall be low flow toilets utilizing the best available technology at the time of installation.

G.      Carwashes.  All carwash systems shall use water recirculation systems

H.      Commercial Establishments in General.

1.       All nonresidential buildings in the City shall maintain:

a.       Public toilets and urinals with best available technology low flow toilets and urinals.

b.       Water efficient dishwashers.

2.       Water efficient washing machines shall be installed upon replacement of existing or acquisition of new washing machines in nonresidential buildings.

I.       Hoses.  No person shall allow water to flow freely from a hose that is not equipped with a positive action quick release shutoff valve or nozzle.

J.       Landscape Irrigation – 1.) New Construction - Irrigation with potable water outside of newly constructed homes and buildings shall be delivered by drip or microspray irrigation systems for irrigation projects submitted for City review on July 1, 2015 or after; 2.) New Landscape Irrigation – Irrigation with potable water of new landscape, not associated with new construction, shall be delivered by drip or microspray irrigation systems for irrigation projects submitted for City review on July 1, 2015 or after.

K.      Exceptions.  The provisions of this section are not applicable to the uses of water that are necessary to protect public health and safety or for essential services, such as police, fire, and other similar emergency services.  The provisions of this section also do not apply to non-potable water, such as recycled or reclaimed water.

To view the entire list of water conservation requirements, check out the Water Conservation Ordinance. Read through the City's Water Conservation Tips and Links. For more information contact the Public Works Department at (310) 802-5324.