California drought: Water-use restrictions in Ventura County

2022-08-02 15:10:11 By : Ms. mary xu

​​​​​​After California's record dry start to the year, efforts to conserve water have created a patchwork of rules for residents that sometimes vary by city or even by neighborhood.

Emergency regulations took effect statewide, prohibiting water waste and requiring water providers to address a 20% water shortage.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California imposed stricter rules for several communities in Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Those areas need to cut water use by 35% or face a ban on outdoor watering as soon as September.

Here's what the rules mean in Ventura County. Some cities have several water providers. You can find your water provider here.

Related:Southern California residents cut water in drought of 'epic proportions'

At a minimum, all areas fall under California's emergency regulations that include:

Areas, including Camarillo, supplied by Calleguas Municipal Water District had to cut outdoor watering to one day a week or find other ways to conserve 35%. Metropolitan supplies water for Calleguas, which provides imported water for several local cities.

Several small districts also provide water to parts of city. Here's a map to look up your water provider and contact information.

Read more:Oxnard limits outdoor watering as city, state grapple with drought

Ventura County Waterworks District areas provide water service in Moorpark, Somis, Lake Sherwood and Bell Canyon. Those areas limited outdoor watering to one day.

Oak Park residents get water from the Triunfo Water and Sanitation District, which has cut outdoor watering to one day a week.

Casitas Municipal Water District supplies most of the drinking water for residents in the city of Ojai. The district gets no imported water and manages Lake Casitas, a reservoir that provides drinking water for the Ojai Valley and Ventura.

Casitas has declared a Stage 3 water shortage – a level first reached more than five years ago at the height of the 2012-16 drought. The board has kept a mandatory 30% cut in water use in place since that time.

Related:Camarillo, Thousand Oaks restrict outdoor watering to once weekly

The city, which provides a blend of groundwater and imported water from Calleguas, has limited outdoor watering to one day a week.

City of Simi Valley Waterworks District 8 and Golden State Water Company provide water for residents in the city. Find your service areas on this map. 

City of Simi Valley Waterworks District 8:

The following rules apply to all homes within the city of Thousand Oaks regardless of the water provider. Customers of water agencies with stricter rules must adhere to those regulations. Find your water provider here.

The city’s water supply comes from the Ventura River, groundwater, Lake Casitas and a small amount of recycled water. 

Have a question about water conservation measures in Ventura County? Please let us know by emailing cheri.carlson@vcstar.com.