Drought Frequently Asked Questions

Cracked Earth, Drought FAQ

General drought questions

  1. What is a drought?

A drought is defined as a prolonged period with less-than-average amounts of rain or snow in a region. Drought severity is calculated from the amount of time that the region receives below-average precipitation. The variable climate in Southern California has become the norm. During previous times of drought, California residents have successfully used water efficiently, and have adopted a water-smart lifestyle even during normal to wet years.

  1. What drought stage is Western in?
  1. Are there mandatory cutbacks?
  1. What does the drought mean for me as a customer?
  1. Will this affect my bill?
  1. What do I need to do to help save water?
  1. Why am I still seeing construction if we’re in a drought?
  1. Why is new construction permitted during a drought?
  1. Can my HOA fine me for not watering my lawn during a drought?
  1. What does the drought emergency mean for my business?
  1. What tools does Western offer its customers?
  1. Are there programs in place to help me save water in my home?
  1. What do I need to know to convert my lawn to water-wise landscaping?
  1. Does Western offer other ideas and resources to get my lawn conversion started?
  1. What is Western doing to make sure our region has water supplies capable of meeting demands now and into the future?
  1. What is a drought?

A drought is a prolonged period with less-than-average amounts of rain or snow in a region. Its severity is calculated by the length of time that region lacks adequate precipitation. Southern California residents are no strangers to inconsistent rain year after year and have successfully adopted water-smart lifestyles that extend beyond periods of drought.

  1. What drought stage are we in?
  1. What are the watering restrictions for CII customers and what is Western's response? 
  1. What is “non-functional turf”?
  1. Does the “non-functional turf” ban apply to residential properties?
  1. May people use recycled water or greywater to irrigate turf?
  1. May people still water trees?
  1. Does this regulation apply to HOAs?
  1. What is the ordinance to businesses using recycled water?