Water Use Restrictions

Long Beach Utilities Water Shortage Contingency Plan: LEVEL 1

Starting Aug. 1, 2023, Long Beach Utilities Water Shortage Contingency Plan Level 1 is in effect.

More information can be found here.

Water Use Rules

  • Water landscape on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only
  • Water landscape 10 minutes per station per watering day, or to the point of runoff, whichever occurs first
  • Water landscape only before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
  • No watering landscape during or 48 hours after rainfall
  • No watering landscape or using water that results in runoff that flows onto neighboring properties, sidewalks walks, roadways, parking lots or structures
  • No washing hardscape (driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, patios, other outdoor impermeable surface areas) with a hose, unless using a pressurized cleaning device. A simple spray nozzle does not qualify as a water-conserving pressurized cleaning device. Click here for information on qualifying pressure washers.
  • No wasting of water due to plumbing or pipeline breaks, leaks or other malfunctions
  • Wash a vehicle with a hose that has a water shut-off nozzle or device attached to the hose that prevents water from running continuously while washing
  • Cover pools and spas when not in use. Click here for pool and spa best management practices.
  • No operating a fountain or other water feature that does not re-circulate the water

Additional Commercial Restrictions

  • Irrigation of non-functional turf (grass) in commercial, industrial and institutional settings is prohibited, read more on the state restriction here
  • Restaurants cannot serve water to customers without the customer requesting it
  • Restaurants and all other commercial, industrial, institutional food preparation sites cannot use pre-rinse spray nozzles having flow-rates greater than 1.5 gallons of water per minute
  • Kitchens or objects such as kitchen non-skid mats cannot be washed with a hose unless using a water-conserving pressurized cleaning device. Click here for information on qualifying pressure washers.
  • Hotels and motels must post signs to notify patrons they can choose not to have linens and towels washed daily
  • A commercial laundry system installed after Nov. 3, 2006, must use devices that re-circulates wash and/or rinse water
  • A conveyor type car wash system must re-circulate the wash and/or rinse water
  • A single-pass cooling system cannot be installed in a building requesting a water connection after Nov. 3, 2006

If you see inefficient water use in Long Beach, let us know anonymously by clicking the button below.

Recycled Water Restrictions

  • Water account owners must use recycled water if the General Manager has provided to the customer an analysis showing that recycled water is a cost-effective alternative to potable water and the customer has had 90 days to make the conversion to recycled water.
  • Water account owners irrigating landscape using recycled water must not do so to the point that the landscape becomes saturated and irrigation waters flow off the landscape.
keyboard_arrow_up

Water & Sewer System Design Guidelines