Water restrictions in Chico, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Most Chico residents are served by California Water Service (Cal Water). Under Cal Water's Water Shortage Contingency Plan (CPUC Rule 14.1), outdoor irrigation is limited to two days per week, watering between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. is prohibited, no watering within 48 hours of rain, and leaks must be repaired within 5 days of notification.
Chico is in Cal Water's Chico District. The District's Schedule 14.1 (Water Shortage Contingency Plan), filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, sets prohibited uses and watering schedules. Stage 2 (in effect during recent drought declarations) limits outdoor landscape irrigation to two assigned days per week and prohibits watering between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Statewide rules under California Water Code §10632 and the State Water Resources Control Board's emergency regulations (23 CCR §995-997) also prohibit hosing down hard surfaces, watering ornamental turf on commercial/industrial/institutional sites, and using potable water in non-recirculating fountains. Cars must be washed with a shutoff-nozzle hose. Watering within 48 hours of measurable rainfall is prohibited.
Cal Water issues a courtesy warning letter for a first violation, then a $50 fine, then $100, then can install a flow-restricting device on the meter. Statewide State Water Board violations can carry fines up to $500 per day under Cal. Water Code §1058.5. Report water waste to Cal Water Chico at (530) 894-4444.
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