Here's
how the residential swimming pool situation stands in Yorba Linda:
The city will continue to issue permits – and collect city-fixed
fees – for new pool construction, but the water district won't
allow new pools or outdoor spas to be filled with district-supplied
water.
The same
rules apply for residential pools and spas that are drained for
repairs. The water district's Stage 3 conservation regulations don't
allow refilling more than one foot of water, a rule that will be
backed by enforcement and a schedule of fines.
Some
companies can drain and store water from pools and spas undergoing
refurbishment and return the water after repairs are completed.
Owners can top off with up to one foot using the district's water.
But
filling new pools is verboten, which can lead to unfortunate
consequences for residents who acquire permits. A recent city staff
report noted that “filling newly constructed pools immediately
after plastering is necessary to ensure proper curing and prevent
cracking.”
That's
why staff suggested to City Council members a “temporary
suspension” of permits for new or remodeled swimming pools or spas
was warranted, but the council didn't adopt either of two draft
moratorium ordinances submitted for consideration earlier this month.
Instead,
council members proposed staff apprise pool permit seekers of the
water district's regulations, with one member suggesting addresses of
those granted permits be given the district. In 2014, 140 permits
were issued for about $113,000 in revenue.
Of
course, pools could still be filled with water from sources other
than the Yorba Linda Water District, which is facing a state-mandated
36 percent cutback in water usage, since some other suppliers have
lesser cutback requirements.
Other
conservation news:
--As
mentioned in a past column, officials are concerned about maintaining
overall park conditions, especially high-use athletic fields. A
three-year turf renovation program was suspended and alternative
maintenance methods researched to extend turf life.
--The
city will seek a water district waiver to allow park watering on two
weekday nights, instead of either Friday or Saturday nights, to avoid
wet parks for Saturday and Sunday morning activities.
--The
city will add a new condition for projects that follows a state
directive requiring drip or microspray systems to irrigate outside
new homes and buildings.
--The
two-day-per-week watering mandate is “not anticipated to
significantly affect” compliance with a city zoning code provision
requiring residents to maintain private landscaping in a “reasonable,
healthy growing manner.”
--According
to a 2009 water district ordinance, if the district moves from a
Stage 3 to Stage 4 emergency, “no new water service will be
provided and no new temporary meters or permanent meters will be
provided, except as is necessary to protect the public health, safety
and welfare.”