Agenda Item Wording:
title
Water Conservation - Stage 2 - Consider reauthorization of Stage 2 of the Visalia Water Conservation Ordinance and adopt Resolution 2026-15.
body
Agenda Date: 03/16/2026
Prepared by: Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director nick.bartsch@visalia.gov, 713-4052
Department Recommendation: Due to persistent and alternating dry and wet years in the Central Valley, it is the recommendation of staff to re-authorize Stage 2 of the Water Conservation Ordinance by Resolution 2026-15 with the understanding that this could change based on California Water Service taking over the process for meeting the California state conservation requirements later this year.
Summary:
The City implemented Stage 2 of the Water Conservation Ordinance in March of 2021 and has re-authorized it annually since that time. Stage 2 of the Ordinance is characterized by restrictions on outdoor water use. Restrictions include reduction of total watering days per week from 3 days per week to 2 days per week as compared to Stage 1, and a complete elimination of irrigation of ornamental turf grasses in the months of December, January, and February. Additional rules and regulations can be found in Section 13.20.070.B. of the attached Ordinance. The varying stages of the Ordinance were intended to reduce the outdoor use of water resources available to the City of Visalia (City), which in turn reduce the overall consumption of water resources and reduce the negative impacts of overdrafts.
As a groundwater reliant municipality, the City derives its water supply almost exclusively from the underground aquifer. When water resources are extracted from the underground aquifer more quickly than they can be replaced, it is considered overdraft and can have multiple negative impacts associated with it. The City is particularly vulnerable to groundwater depletion, subsidence, and impacted groundwater quality. The most recent groundwater level measurement by California Water Service r...
Click here for full text