1.Which conservation level are we currently under?

LEVEL 1

On April 25, 2023, City Council rescinded Level 3 water restrictions and authorized to move to Level 1 water conservation measures; the City's permanent water conservation measures. In short, this allows watering 3 days per week (days are not specified). View the staff report and ordinance for more info.

2. What are the different levels of water shortage?

Water agencies in California are required to have a Water Shortage Contingency Plan in place that defines the actions to be taken locally in response to 6 different levels of water shortage. These are defined as Levels 1 through 6 with Level 1 defining the actions for a 0 – 10% water shortage, Level 2 for 10 – 20% shortage etc. and Level 6 for a 50% or more shortage. These are incorporated into the City’s Municipal Code and can be found in Title 10 Chapter 2 Article 11: Water Conservation, and on our webpage here.

3. I live in the City of Thousand Oaks but am in the CalAm/CalWater/Camrosa service area. Whose rules do I follow?

The City’s Level 1 water restrictions apply to everyone within the City regardless of your service provider. In cases where the restrictions of your service provider are not aligned with these, you will need to follow the more stringent (stricter) requirements.

4. I live in an unincorporated area of the city. Whose rules must I follow?

You must abide by the restrictions of your water service provider. If that service provider is the City then you should follow the same Level 1 water restrictions as the incorporated area.

5. How many days per week can I water?

Under Level 1, you may water three days per week (days not specified).

1.Why is there a focus on irrigation?

Reducing all water use is important. Using water wisely indoors by using efficient shower heads, faucets, and appliances, taking shorter showers and eliminating leaks are also important. However, up to 70% of our water is used for outside irrigation. Reducing outdoor watering is the most effective way to achieve the substantial reductions required so we ensure sufficient water for our needs through the end of the year.

2. Can we water on any day?

Under Level 1 you may water up to three days per week. Days are not specified. City Council can designate days by Resolution if necessary.

3. Can we water at any time?

Watering or irrigating landscape and vegetated areas with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, or by use of a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for short periods for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system, or for turf refurbishment on a public playing field.

4. Is there a time limit on watering?

Watering or irrigating landscape and vegetated areas with potable water using a sprinkler system that includes spray heads and/or bubblers or a watering device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than 10 minutes of watering per day per station or irrigation zone. Drip irrigation systems (including subsurface) and water efficient devices such as rotator stream nozzles are permitted to operate for a longer period such that an equivalent volume of water is dispensed. In the absence of manufacturer specifications, rotator stream nozzles are permitted to run for 20 minutes and drip systems for up to 60 minutes provided that there is no water runoff.

5. I have regular spray sprinklers. Can I use these?

Under Level 1, watering or irrigating landscape and vegetated areas with potable water using a sprinkler system that includes spray heads and/or bubblers or a watering device that is not continuously attended is allowed and limited to no more than 10 minutes of watering per day per station or irrigation zone.

6. What does “per station” mean? What is a station?

Larger landscaped areas are often divided up into multiple separate irrigation zones, each controlled by its own valve. If operating the valves by hand they can all be opened at the same time to irrigate all areas simultaneously. However, when an irrigation controller is used, it will typically cycle through the zones one at a time. In this case, each zone or “station” is allowed up to 10 minutes of watering.

7. What do you mean by hand-watering?

Hand watering refers to the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device.

8. I live in an HOA property. Can the HOA water its turf/lawn areas?

No. Irrigation of non-functional grass on commercial, institutional, and industrial properties is prohibited. This includes HOA maintained landscape areas in condominium, townhome, and apartment complexes. Designation of turf as functional (actively used for recreational purposes) requires application and approval of a waiver by the water purveyor.

1. How do I know how much water I’m using now?

Please refer to your water bill. For the City of Thousand Oaks water agency, the bill covers two months, so divide the total usage by two for your monthly amount. The units are HCF (Hundred Cubic Feet). The bill also shows the average daily usage in HCF and gallons and your use history for the past year. We encourage everyone to stay within Tier One water usage.

There are rebates available through www.bewaterwise.com for devices that you can use (some, such as the Flume device, require no plumbing) to monitor your water use in real-time and give you a breakdown by the day, hour, even minute and help you understand your water use.

2. Does the City have an agricultural allowance or rate?

The City of Thousand Oaks does not have designated agricultural zones and therefore the water agency does not have agricultural rates.

3. Why is the City allowing new development? There won’t be enough water.

We still need to provide housing for our existing residents and workers, including our required new housing mandates from the State of California. In an effort to support the creation of new housing, the State has prioritized new housing over outdoor water use and has imposed regulations to ensure the protection of water resources and encourage efficient, responsible use. The good news is that new housing units are significantly more efficient than most single-family detached houses built in Thousand Oaks years ago as a result of new State building and water efficiency codes and smaller landscape areas.

Do pools need to be covered?

It is highly recommended that outdoor swimming pools and spas be covered when not in use. Uncovered pools use as much water (losing it through evaporation) as lawns. Nearly all of this can be conserved by covering your pool. You will also save money on heating the pool as the cover will retain the pool’s heat.

My pool is an odd shape, I can’t find a pool cover to fit it.

Bubble pool covers are the most affordable pool cover and can be cut to any shape. The pool cover does not have to be one single continuous piece. Your pool can be covered with multiple smaller pieces that float on the water to cover it.

People are in and out of the pool all day. How can we keep it covered?

We recommend covering your pool/spa when not in use. If your pool is in use during the day, please cover it overnight after the last person has finished using the pool.

We have a shared pool at our complex which is managed by the HOA. There are no staff to cover the pool when it closes at night.

If it is not possible to physically cover the pool, you can utilize a “chemical” or “liquid pool cover”, which is not a blanket but a liquid – a mix of alcohol and calcium hydroxide that is lighter than water and floats on its surface, creating a film-like barrier that you can’t see or feel. This invisible layer holds in heat and reduces evaporation. The chemical will need to be applied on a regular basis, usually 2 or 3 times a week. It is the HOA’s responsibility to figure out the best way for them to comply with this requirement.

I don’t want to cover my pool because I am afraid that my pets/small children will fall in and get trapped under the blanket.

Please either cover your pool at night when pets and children are indoors or utilize a “chemical pool cover” as described above.

Can I fill my pool?

Yes, under Level 1 conservation measures, draining and re-filling your pool for purposes of fixing a leak, emergency repair, or remodel is allowed.

If I have a new pool permit, can I construct and fill it?

Yes.

My fountain uses recirculated water. Do I need to turn it off?

No. Recirculating water is required for water fountains and running-water features. Operating a water fountain or other running-water feature that does not recirculate water is prohibited.

Can I wash my car, boat, or RV?

Using potable water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat, or trailer, whether motorized or not, is prohibited, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device. This subsection does not apply to any commercial car washing facility.

Can I fill a kiddie pool with water?

Yes.

Are there any rebates for reducing turf or helping to reduce water use?

Yes. Please visit bewaterwise.com for a list of available rebates and application forms. There are rebates for high-efficiency clothes washers, high-efficiency toilets, high-efficiency rotating nozzle sprinklers, turf (lawn) replacement, and more. Turf rebates are available from $3 per square foot. We recommend taking advantage of these rebates while they are still available.

How should I landscape if I remove my turf/lawn?

There are lots of good resources available for helping you convert to less water-intensive landscaping, such as California native plants. Please refer to our landscaping page for resources or the Master Gardeners of Ventura County webpage.

Can my HOA fine me for not watering my turf/lawn?

No. Enforcement of HOA landscaping requirements is not permitted during the drought and you have 6 months after the drought is over to re-landscape. However, you should remove weeds and dead brush for fire resiliency.

I heard that the City does not recommend artificial turf. Why is that?

Artificial turf gets very hot in summer, even hotter than asphalt. It can be forty degrees hotter than the air temperature. This means that it will need watering to cool it down to a safe temperature to play on or even for your pet to use. If you dog uses it to relieve itself, it will retain the odor unless you wash it down. Washing down hard surfaces, such as artificial turf, is not permitted under our current water restrictions. Because of the temperature, this turf (or actually, a plastic rug) contributes to our urban heat island effect. Eventually (10 – 15 years) it will need to be replaced, which means landfilling the old one and purchasing and installing a new one. Artificial turf is much more expensive than alternatives like mulch, which is available in playground quality, or rock.

How do I report water waste?

If you see water waste, call our hotline at (805) 375-5747 to report it, or report at: https://www.toakswater.org/contact-us or use our City service request system through the Mobile Citizen app online here

There are restrictions that I cannot meet. How do I apply for a waiver?

Please go to the Violations page which discusses the City’s enforcement process and scroll down to the waiver form and instructions. The waiver form can also be found here.

Can I buy reclaimed water from the City after it’s treated at the City’s wastewater treatment plant?

There is no provision for this currently. The City does not have a required permit to do this. There are many logistical and practical challenges to providing residents with access to treated wastewater at Hill Canyon Treatment Plant. The City’s treated non-potable water is being beneficially reused by the Camrosa Water District, which reduces overall demand on imported water and benefits the overall region. We are currently investigating ways in which our residents may be able to access recycled water from other water purveyors.

Drought is not new to California. Haven’t we been investing in improving our water supply?

The City receives nearly 100% of its water supply from the Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) and we are part of Metropolitan Water District (MWD) service area. Calleguas and MWD have invested over $1.5 billion in water efficiency measures, storage expansion and overall system upgrades since the 1990s. During this time, the total water demand in the region has dropped 20% even though the population has grown by almost 30%.

What about desalination?

Desalination is a long-term option that can help supply potable water. However, desalination plants are expensive to build, have high energy costs to operate, and have significant environmental impacts including fish entrapment. It is estimated that the cost of water from desalination would be at least double that for existing imported water. You can read more here.

What about using recycled water?

The City’s wastewater is treated at Hill Canyon Treatment Plant, located at the bottom of a canyon in the Santa Rosa Valley several hundred feet below the Conejo Valley. Non-potable treated water (so-called “purple pipe” water) could potentially be used for irrigation, however, the City does not have “purple pipe” infrastructure within the City and installing a second set of pipes under existing streets to distribute the water would be very expensive. In addition, the wastewater effluent is already being beneficially reused by the Camrosa Water District, which reduces overall demand on imported water and benefits the overall region.

Why don’t we use groundwater?

The City has conducted several studies to evaluate the potential of developing a supplemental supply of potable water for the community through groundwater. Due to the geology and topography of the Conejo Valley, opportunities to extract local groundwater supplies are limited. However, groundwater reuse from an existing well located at Los Robles golf course may be able to provide a local potable water source for up to ten percent of the City’s water use. Testing is occurring for the Groundwater Utilization Project to evaluate its sustainability and feasibility. You can read about that project here.

What is the City and Calleguas doing to improve local water supply and resiliency?

Calleguas just completed their comprehensive water supply alternatives study, which outlined dozens of possible local water supply and augmentation possibilities. That study will be published soon, but you can read about it and other similar resiliency programs here.

Calleguas is also under construction for a critical system interconnection right now on Lindero Canyon Road that will tie their system to the LA County System with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, which will further boost emergency water supply and resiliency to Thousand Oaks customers. You can read about that important project here.

What has the City done to help bring water here from elsewhere?

The City for many years has advocated for both federal and state legislation to support the water supply in Ventura County. More specifically the City has supported the California WaterFix project, which would have developed greater water capacity for our region. Unfortunately, this project has gone through various iterations and been reduced in scope due to a lack of support from farmers in the Central Valley and concerns from other stakeholders. A smaller scale version of this project will be unveiled to the public this summer. The City, in cooperation with both Calleguas Municipal Water District and Metropolitan Water District, will review and support the new concept.

The City has played an active role in reviewing state legislation, especially bills that support water infrastructure projects and has supported a number of bills including rebates for drought tolerant landscapes, a safe drinking water fund, water rate assistance and water conservation programs. The City is also supporting regional desalter projects.

Here is a list of water-related bills/projects that the City has supported:

1. California WaterFix (2017, 2018)

2. AB 2040 (2015) Rebates for drought tolerant landscapes (bill died)

3. AB 18 (2017) Clean water and water recycling initiative (bill died)

4. SmartWater Grant for City of Camarillo for Desalter Project (2018)

5. SB 669 (2019) Clean Water Trust Fund (bill died)

6. Federal Infrastructure Bill (2019)

7. SB 5 (2019) State Sustainable Investment Program (2019

8. SB 222 (2021) Water Rate Assistance Program (Vetoed by the Governor)