About 40 percent of Pasadena’s water supply comes from natural underground aquifers, which are currently about 60 feet below historical norms; about 60 percent of the water supply is imported from the Metropolitan Water District.

A federal court ruling that restricts pumping activities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has caused MWD to draw from its reserves and consider restricting the amount of water each of its member agencies, including Pasadena, will receive in the future.

The Pasadena City Council declared on December 17, 2007, that a projected water shortage exists and implemented Water Shortage Plan I in accordance with the Pasadena Municipal Code.

The plan directs all residents, businesses and organizations to adhere voluntarily to nine specific water conservation measures, all of which are critical for saving water and preventing an actual shortage and mandatory restrictions on water use.

The specific actions called for in Water Shortage Plan I are:

1. Refrain from hosing or washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas and other paved surfaces;

2. Refrain from cleaning, filling or maintaining levels in decorative fountains, ponds, lakes and similar structures unless a water recycling system is in use;

3. Refrain from serving drinking water, unless at the express request of a customer, in all restaurants, hotels, cafés, cafeterias and other public places where food is sold, served or offered for sale;

4. Promptly repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixtures, including sprinkler systems;

5. Refrain from allowing water to run off landscape areas into adjoining streets, sidewalks, parking lots and alleys;

6. While washing vehicles, refrain from allowing water to run off into adjoining streets, sidewalks, parking lots and alleys;

7. Refrain from watering lawns and other landscaped areas more often than once every three days;

8. Refrain from watering lawns and other landscaped areas between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.;

9. Refrain from filling or refilling swimming pools.

According to Pasadena Water and Power officials, over-watering of lawns is the single biggest water waster. Most people water their lawns twice as much as needed, which for a typical Pasadena residence amounts to about 9,000 gallons of wasted water per year.

Although the program is voluntary, anyone who does not adhere to these measures will receive notices from Pasadena Water and Power.

Additional water conservation tips include:

• Take shorter showers – five minutes or less;

• Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth or shaving;

• Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes;

• Install water-efficient fixtures and appliances;

• Add two to three of mulch around trees and plants.

In July 2007 Mayor Bill Bogaard called on Pasadenans to begin conservation practices to achieve a 10 percent reduction in water use; just over two percent has been reduced to date.

“For the good of the community and the environment, I urge everyone in the strongest possible terms to adopt lifelong, efficient water use habits,” said Mayor Bill Bogaard.

Pasadena Water and Power officials will return to the city council in 90 to 120 days to give an update on the state of its water supply.

For more information, visit www.cityofpasadena.net (click on Use Water Wisely Pasadena ) or call the Water Shortage Hotline at 626-744-8888.