ANAHEIM, CA (September 17, 2008) - At its September 16 meeting, the Anaheim City Council approved by resolution the Voluntary Water Conservation Measures that encourage all Anaheim Public Utilities water customers to voluntarily reduce water use.

“By adopting this resolution now, we hope to heighten public awareness of ongoing drought conditions in Southern California, underscore the City’s support for recent state and regional efforts to save water, and increase participation in Anaheim’s water-saving programs,” said Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. “At this time, Anaheim’s outreach campaign and our enhanced conservation programs have allowed us to currently hold off on recommending greater appeals for water use reduction for our customers.”

Anaheim’s adoption of these voluntary measures follows a June 4 statewide drought proclamation by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a Water Supply Alert issued by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors to help slow the usage of reserve water supplies.

To further encourage public efforts to save water, the City will also lead by example in adopting water-saving projects and practices.

“As part of these actions,” Pringle said, “the City will irrigate landscape at City buildings and facilities only during the off-peak hours (5 p.m. to 10 a.m.), install water-use efficiency projects or fixtures and investigate potential sites throughout Anaheim for California Friendly landscaping.”

“Over the last 20 years, Anaheim’s population has risen five times faster than water demand,” said Marcie Edwards, general manager of Anaheim Public Utilities. And with the City and public efforts outlined in these measures to save water, she believes that “Anaheim’s customers will become even more efficient water users.

”The City has adopted the following voluntary measures that ask the public to:

• Refrain from hosing or washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking
  areas or other paved surfaces, except where necessary to protect public
  health and safety;
• Promptly repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixtures, including
  but not limited to sprinkler systems;
• Refrain from allowing water to run off landscaped areas onto adjoining
  streets, sidewalks, parking lots, or alleys;
• Refrain from allowing water to run off onto adjoining streets, sidewalks,
  parking lots or alleys while washing vehicles;
• Adjust landscape watering according to weather conditions to avoid excess
  usage; preferably limit watering to no more than every other day;
• Limit landscape watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.; and
• Offer guests in hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments
  the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.

For more details on the outreach campaign and to find information on water-saving rebates and incentives, Anaheim customers are invited to Click Here.