The Mission Springs Water District (MSWD) upgraded water demand restrictions to Level 2 in light of California's intensifying drought conditions. The upgraded restrictions for MSWD customers will be in addition to the restrictions already in place.
"MSWD has already started to reach out to impacted customers, letting them know of the changes, and we will be performing additional outreach in the coming weeks," Marion Champion, MSWD Programs and Public Affairs manager, said in a recent news release. "We have a variety of conservation programs, including rebates for efficient landscaping and inefficient toilet replacements that customers can take advantage of to help save water every day."
These measures are in step with Gov. Gavin Newsom's Executive Order N-7-22, which asked all Californians to save water and called upon certain state agencies to act in harmony with conservation.
To mitigate a water crisis, MSWD developed a water shortage contingency plan in 2021 and on June 1 stepped up its restrictions to Level 2. These upgraded restrictions prohibit using water for spray irrigation unless the district grants specific approval. They also ban serving water at restaurants if the customer hasn't asked for it. To ensure compliance, patrol cars will step up their enforcement of water restrictions throughout the district.
Besides these new prohibitions, Level 1 restrictions will remain in place. The Level 1 restrictions prohibit the excessive use of water in the MSWD. The ban includes using water in a manner that generates runoff onto other properties, utilizing fountains that do not recirculate water and doing spray irrigation within two days of rainfall. Along with these restrictions, protocol for broken and leaking sprinkler systems has been implemented, and repairs for sprinklers must be made within five business days after informing the agency.
There are six levels of restrictions, MSWD's water shortage contingency plan said. It remains undetermined whether additional restrictions will be implemented as the summer approaches.
In addition to MSWD's water shortage restrictions, the agency offers rebates, tips, guides and other resources to further its mission of conservation. MSWD will offer up to $100 for homeowners to upgrade their toilets to more efficient models. The agency also offers rebates for turf removal of up to $3,000 for homeowners and $10,000 for business owners, so that customers can landscape their properties to better suit the desert climate.