Water Use Rules to Preserve Our Drinking Water The City of San José joins the Santa Clara Valley Water District and San José water service providers in asking all residents and businesses to do their part to preserve the drinking water supply during this drought. Please reduce your water use by 30 percent. These rules are established in the San José Municipal code or by local water service providers. View the full Ordinance, or Resolution.

Outdoor Water Conservation Rules & Recommendations*
Outdoor water use is probably the easiest place to reduce water use since it accounts for roughly half of the average water bill. Please follow these rules:

1. Be cool — water when it’s cool, by HAND held hose with an automatic shut off nozzle or irrigation system before 10:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. With a SPRINKLER system, water before 10:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. only on two designated days:

• Odd numbered addresses may water on Mondays and Thursdays;
• Even numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Fridays;
• Properties without an address may water on Mondays and Thursdays

Watering outdoors at other times is not allowed. Less evaporation occurs in the cooler evening and early morning hours — so you can use less water and your plants and landscape will absorb more of it.

2. Be trendy — use gray water (used water from baths, sinks) to wash your car, take it to a commercial car wash, or leave it dirty. No car washing with potable water.
3. Be local — use community pools or the beach. No refilling residential pools/spas more than one foot and no initial filling with potable water, except when existing pools are drained to repair leaks.
4. Be quick — fix water leaks as soon as possible. Fix visible leaks as soon as possible. If notified of a leak in your system, fix it within 5 working days.    
5. Be in control — don’t let water flow into gutters or streets. Beyond minor splashing of surfaces, sprinkler and drip systems and hand watering that cause water to flow into gutters and streets or that make large puddles is not allowed.
6. Be a sharp shooter — with automatic shut-off nozzles. Hoses are required to have a nozzle that shuts off automatically when the handle is released. This helps you aim and control the water and can save many gallons.
7. Be a sweeper — sweep hard surfaces. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or other hard surfaces. Note: Hosing is allowed when health and safety issues are a concern.
8. Be frugal — water less often and consider rebates. Many plants can survive on less water, especially when the weather starts to cool. Consider replacing lawns and thirsty plants with drought tolerant landscaping and get a rebate from the Santa Clara Valley Water District!

1. Provide customers with water only upon request. Food servers are to provide water to customers only when requested, not automatically.
2. Hand dishwashing requires low-flow spray valves. Hand-held spraying fixtures for dishwashing must be fitted with low-flow spray valves that automatically shut off.
3. Make daily towel and linen service optional. Hotels must offer guests the option to help conserve water by having fresh towel and linen service only upon request.
4. Fire hydrant use. Use of fire hydrants by construction companies and watering trucks requires permission and a temporary water meter from the water utility where the hydrant is located.

More tips to preserve our drinking water
There are lots of ways to conserve. Catch shower water in a bucket while it warms up and water plants with it. When shaving, rinse your blade in a bowl of water instead of running water. For more tips and information on rebates, visit www.valleywater.org.

To report water waste

Report water waste to the Santa Clara Valley Water District by calling (408) 630-2000 or emailing drought@valleywater.org<i class=”alert”>For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address.</i>.