WATER WATCH

Each city is required to have a water-conservation plan. The following are restrictions on water usage that cities have enacted or are considering. “Designated irrigation days” are those in which an odd- or even-numbered address corresponds with an odd- or even-numbered date.

ANAHEIM

* The City Council on March 19 will consider beginning Plan 2 of the city’s water-conservation plan. If approved, it would mean:

Landscape watering would be allowed on designated irrigation days.

Refilling pools, spas, ponds and artificial lakes would not be allowed.

Water could not be used to hose down outdoor paved surfaces.

A special team of city employees, known as “water advisers,” would be formed to issue citations to water wasters.

* The city has a hot line for people to report water wasters: (714) 991-DRIP.

BREA

* The City Council approved beginning Stage 2 of the city’s water-conservation plan on March 5. It calls for:

Landscape watering on designated irrigation days. Watering is restricted to a period from 6 p.m. on those days until 9 a.m. the next morning. Watering is permitted at any time with a hose with a shut-off nozzle, a bucket holding five gallons or less, or a drip-irrigation system.

Restricting car washing to designated irrigation days, and only from 6 p.m. on that day until 6 a.m. the following morning.

Filling pools, spas, ponds and artificial lakes only on designated irrigation days, from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning.

Prohibition of hosing down outdoor paved surfaces.

Prohibition of serving water at restaurants unless specifically requested.

Prohibition of operating ornamental fountains.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

* An ordinance that details the city’s water-conservation plan will be considered by the City Council on March 19. It might result in mandatory restrictions, as yet undetailed.

GARDEN GROVE

* The City Council will consider mandatory restrictions March 19. Stage 1 of the city’s plan began Feb. 19. It is voluntary and calls for:

Lawn watering every other day at most unless a hand-held hose, hand-held bucket or drip-irrigation system is used.

Car washing every other day at most unless done at a car wash.

Pool, spa, pond and artificial lake refilling every other day at most.

A ban on watering of golf courses (except greens), parks, school grounds and recreational fields between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

A ban on washing down sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts and patios.

A ban on serving water at restaurants unless specifically requested.

A ban on operating ornamental fountains.

LA HABRA

* The City Council approved beginning Stage 3 of the city’s water conservation plan on March 5. Under Stage 3:

Landscape watering is allowed only on designated irrigation days, from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning.

Car washing is not allowed except at a commercial carwash.

Pool, spa, pond and lake refilling can only be done on irrigation days, from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning.

Watering of golf courses (except greens), parks, school grounds and recreational fields is not allowed between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

No water can be used to wash down pavement.

Ornamental fountains cannot be operated.

Water can be served at restaurants only when specifically requested.

LA PALMA

* The City Council will consider mandatory restrictions March 19.

LAGUNA BEACH

* The city has a hot line for people to report water wasters: (714) 494-WATR.

NEWPORT BEACH

* An ordinance that details the city’s amended water-conservation plan will be presented to the City Council on Monday. Mandatory restrictions will be considered under the plan at the council meeting on March 25.

SAN CLEMENTE

* The City Council approved an ordinance Feb. 20 detailing the city’s water conservation law and beginning Stage 2 immediately. It calls for:

Serving water at restaurants only on request.

Slashing water consumption in most single-family households by 30%. On average, it would result in a household being limited to 450 gallons a day, down from the former 650-gallon daily limit.

Watering lawns on alternating days, before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.

Fining violators $100 on the second offense. Violators face a misdemeanor charge on the third offense.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

* The City Council approved beginning Stage 2 of the water-conservation plan on March 5. It calls for:

Banning landscape watering, including golf courses (except greens), parks, school grounds and recreational fields, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Watering is permitted at any time if either a hose with a shut-off nozzle, a five-gallon or less bucket or a drip-irrigation system is used.

Allowing car washing only if it is done with a hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle or a hand-held bucket of five gallons or less.

Not using water to hose down outdoor paved surfaces.

Not serving water unless specifically requested at restaurants.

Banning use of ornamental fountains.

SANTA ANA

* The City Council passed a resolution in January implementing the first phase of the city’s three-phase plan to conserve water. It states that:

No water can be used to wash down sidewalks, driveways, parking areas or other paved surfaces.

Lawns cannot be watered between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

No water can be used to clean, fill or maintain ornamental fountains, ponds or lakes, unless such water is part of a recycling system.

Water must be specifically requested at restaurants.

STANTON

* The City Council will consider mandatory restrictions on Tuesday. If approved, they would include:

Banning lawn watering from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day between April 1 and Sept. 30.

Not using water to wash down pavement.

Banning car washing unless a hand-held hose or bucket is used or it is done at a commercial carwash.

Banning watering of parks, school grounds, public facilities and recreational fields from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Serving water at restaurants only when requested.

TUSTIN

* The City Council will consider mandatory restrictions March 18. If approved, they would include:

Banning lawn watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. any day, unless a hand-held hose, bucket or a drip-irrigation system is used.

Not using water to wash down pavement.

Banning car washing unless a hand-held hose or bucket is used.

Banning use of ornamental fountains, unless the water is part of a recycling system.

Banning watering of parks, school grounds, public facilities and recreational fields from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Serving water at restaurants only when requested.

YORBA LINDA

* An ordinance that details the city’s water-conservation plan will be considered by the City Council on Thursday. It might result in mandatory restrictions, as yet undetailed.

Note: Cypress, Dana Point, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Laguna Niguel, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo and Westminster have not begun their conservation plans and the city councils have not set dates to consider action. Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Orange, Placentia, Seal Beach and Villa Park also have not begun conservation plans, but have 10% voluntary water-reduction ordinances in effect. Researched by Kathie Bozanich / Los Angeles Times