Attention Los Altos Hills Residents Served by Cal Water:

In light of worsening drought conditions, California Water Service asked the California Public Utilities Commission for permission to move into Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan in the Los Altos District.

Cal Water will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 17 to educate Los Altos customers about Stage 2 restrictions, which include outdoor watering limits and increased water-waste penalties, and to provide information on conservation programs and tools available to help customers reduce their water use. The workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Los Altos History Museum Courtyard, 51 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022.

Cal Water representatives will provide details about new irrigation restrictions as part of Stage 2 and discuss current prohibited uses of water. Some of the restrictions include:

Outdoor landscape irrigation is limited to two days per week between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Odd addresses water on Tuesday and Saturday, even addresses water on Wednesday and Sunday, and properties without street addresses water on Wednesday and Sunday.
All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in a customer’s plumbing fixtures and/or irrigation system must be repaired within five business days of written notification by Cal Water.
Vehicles may only be washed with a hose that has a shutoff nozzle or similar device.
Water may not be used on driveways or sidewalks, unless for health and safety purposes.
No watering of outdoor landscapes may occur during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
Restaurants may only serve water upon request, and hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of not having towels and linens laundered daily.

Customers will be receiving detailed information in the mail about Stage 2 and the meeting. Coronavirus precautions will be observed at the meeting; masks and social distancing will be required. The presentation will be available online at www.calwater.com after the meeting for customers who prefer to not attend in person. If approved by the CPUC, Cal Water’s application would become effective Dec. 14, 2021.

At the meeting, representatives will also provide details about Cal Water’s industry-leading conservation programs to help save water every day, including:

Lawn-to-garden rebate of $3 per square foot of lawn removed and replaced with low-water use landscaping
Spray-to-drip rebate of $0.50 per square foot of landscaping converted from standard spray irrigation to a drip system
Rebates on high-efficiency appliances and devices, with certain rebates recently doubled
A free smart landscape tune-up program that includes an irrigation system evaluation along with installation of efficient devices and repair of most irrigation leaks
A free conservation kit that includes a garden hose nozzle with shutoff valve, high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, and more for residential customers

Program details and additional conservation resources can be found on calwater.com/conservation.