City of San José
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68℉Outdoor Water Use Rules for Businesses
NOTICE: NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF IRRIGATION BAN IN EFFECT
New state law prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf (NFT) at Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) sites, including home-owners associations. Violations of the prohibition are subject to enforcement measures by the State (at any time) and by Valley Water during a declared drought. The compliance timeline for the state ban on irrigation of NFT for CII properties is by January 1, 2028 and for HOAs by January 1, 2029.
The City of San José encourages all businesses to save water. The City has a permanent water waste ordinance that is in effect at all times. A sample of the water use restrictions contained in the ordinance are the following (please refer to the link for the full text):
- Outdoor watering hours are restricted to before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m., unless using a hand-held hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle or a drip irrigation system.
- Standard sprinklers cannot run more than 15 minutes per station per day.
- Find and fix leaks as soon as possible. Once you’re aware of a leak in your system, begin fixing it within 5 working days. Find out how to detect water leaks and fix them.
Rebates and programs
Our rebates and programs are available to help CII customers save water and to comply with the NFT ban:
- Lawn to mulch rebate
- Landscape conversion rebate
- Water Wise Outdoor surveys for CII sites with ½ acre and under landscapes
- Large landscape budget/survey program for CII sites with over ½ acre landscape
- Water Efficient Technology (WET) Rebate program for equipment upgrades
- Water Saving Devices
- Fixture Replacement Program
BE WATER WISE BUSINESSES
Help conserve water, save the environment, and save money on your water bills with these suggestions:
- Educate your Employees: Get staff involved in saving water – office signs are a helpful reminder and can support water saving habits
- Recycle and Reuse Water: When possible - use recycled water for approved commercial uses including irrigation, cooling towers, and construction activities.
- Install WaterSense labelled products: Select water-efficient products when replace or purchase new water using fixtures such as toilets, urinals, irrigation controllers, etc.
resources
Visit the links below for additional information on Valley Water’s and county-wide water waste regulations: