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 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

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.

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.