Water Conservation

On March 28th 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom released Executive Order N-7-22. The executive order outlined the current drought crisis in California and the water conservation measures to address the issue. The executive order outlined requirements for local agencies to develop or implement measures from their Water Shortage Contingency Plans (WSCP). The executive order has placed California Urban Water Suppliers in Stage 2 (mandatory conservation), and is requiring local agencies reduce water usage by at least 10%.

As an Urban Water Supplier, the City of Fortuna developed a WSCP in June of 2021; which was recently updated during the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) cycle. As required by the state to address the executive order issued by Governor Newsom, Fortuna will be implementing the water conservation measures outlined in the City’s WSCP for stages 1 and 2. These measures will go into effect on June 10th, 2022. Please find these conservation measures below. 

During a Stage I water shortage voluntary water conservation is requested of all customers including the specific voluntary measures below:

  • Use water efficient indoor devices (faucet aerators, low flow toilets, water efficient washers, water efficient shower heads and water efficient sprinkler heads);
  • Equip automatic commercial car washes with a water recycling system;
  • Refrain from the cleaning of building exteriors, mobile homes, cars, boats, and recreational vehicles unless the hose is equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle;
  • Refrain from washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or other exterior paved areas except by public agency for the purpose of public safety;
  • Install hose-end shutoff nozzles on all garden and utility hoses;
  • Placement of a water emergency notice in each room in hotels and motels;
  • Refrain from landscape watering between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM; and
  • Refrain from serving water in a restaurant or other commercial food service establishment except upon the request of a patron.

During a Stage II water shortage mandatory water conservation is required of all customers including the specific mandatory measures above and below:

  • The use of a hose that dispenses potable water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shutoff nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use.
  • The use of potable water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, except where the water is part of a recirculating system.
  • Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or other exterior paved areas except by public agency for the purpose of public safety.
  • Use of any hose without a quick acting shutoff nozzle.
  • Outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf with potable water except for Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
  • The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures.


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