California Water Service on Monday submitted a filing with the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, to rescind Stage 2 of our Water Shortage Contingency Plan because of improved drought conditions and increased water supply throughout its districts.

Stage 1 becomes effective immediately but remains subject to a 30-day review period by the CPUC.

“This year has been one of the wettest on record, with a snowpack that has reached historic levels; however, we must remember that it follows three of the driest years on record,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water president and CEO. “As our changing climate makes these extreme weather patterns more frequent, we will continue to work with our customers to build and maintain long-term conservation habits that prepare us for when the weather pendulum swings back to dry years.”

Although Cal Water is moving to Stage 1, customers must continue to observe any city or county landscape irrigation ordinances in effect.

Cal Water also encourages customers to remain vigilant about their water use and, in particular, ensure landscaping actually needs water before irrigating it.

Some outdoor water-use restrictions remain in place, including:

• No watering of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties.
• Watering only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
• No watering of outdoor landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
• Only washing vehicles with a hose that has a shutoff nozzle or similar device, or at a car wash that uses recycled water.
• No watering driveways, sidewalks, or other paved areas, unless for health and safety purposes.

Cal Water’s conservation rebates and programs will also continue, including a $3-per-square-foot rebate for lawn-to-garden conversions, a 50 cents-per-square-foot rebate for spray-to-drip conversions, and its popular Smart Landscape Tune-Up Program.

For a complete list of rebates, programs and water-use restrictions, visit www.calwater.com/conservation.