Menlo Park Municipal Water moves to stage 1 drought emergency

Published on April 11, 2022

On March 1, 2022, the City Council declared a drought emergency under stage 1 which requires customers to reduce water use by 10% and prohibits the follow water uses:

Applying water to outdoor landscapes that cause more than incidental runoff
Washing vehicles without an automatic shut-off nozzle
Washing impervious areas unless it addresses an immediate health and safety need
Irrigating turf and ornamental landscapes within 48 hours of measurable rainfall (1/4” of rainfall) - does not apply to trees
Using/filling/topping off decorative fountains, lakes, or ponds with potable water unless pumps recirculate water
Irrigating turf on public medians
Using potable water for street cleaning or construction site preparation purposes unless no other method is available or as needed to protect the health and safety of the public
Hotels and motels shall provide guests an option whether to launder towels and linens daily
Restaurants and other food service operations shall serve water to customers only upon request
Broken or defective plumbing and irrigation systems must be repaired or replaced within a reasonable period, not exceeding seven days
Recreational water features shall be covered when not in use
Newly constructed homes and buildings must irrigate with drip or microspray only

Also under stage 1, customers will see a drought surcharge on their monthly water bills beginning July 2022. The less water customers use, the less impact the surcharge will affect their bill.

As the drought conditions continue to worsen it is possible that Menlo Park Municipal Water may move into a stage 2 drought emergency outlined in the Water Shortage Contingency Plan by summer 2022. All water customers are encouraged to continue to conserve water by doing their part to reduce water use and to take advantage of the City’s water conservation programs.

For more information on the drought and water conservation programs visit menlopark.org/drought.