Berkeley residents follow East Bay Municipal Utility District watering rules: no irrigation between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., no runoff onto sidewalks, and stricter limits during declared drought stages.
Drinking water in Berkeley is supplied by EBMUD, whose Drought Management Program imposes outdoor-watering rules that apply citywide. Year-round rules prohibit irrigation between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., ban runoff onto hardscape, and require automatic shutoff nozzles on hoses. During declared Stage 1 through Stage 4 droughts, EBMUD adds day-of-week limits and reduces allowed irrigation cycles, and may impose excessive-use surcharges starting around $2 per unit above an allocation. Berkeley Public Works enforces local fugitive-runoff complaints under BMC Chapter 17.20 stormwater rules.
EBMUD issues warnings followed by surcharges on water bills for repeat violators; Berkeley separately cites runoff onto streets as a stormwater violation with fines starting around $100.
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