On June 1, San Diego residents will have to follow a regimented outdoor watering schedule in response to a 10 percent reduction in water supplies to the city. Water Department spokesperson Alex Ruiz said residents already conserved approximately five percent last year and so the city really only needs an additional five percent reduction in water usage from residents. The Water Department will hire 10 code compliance officers to ensure property owners, businesses and the City follow water restrictions that include: Outdoor watering can only occur from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. Watering with a pop-up spray irrigation system must be limited to 10 minutes per station. Residents can water as long as needed by hand or with a drip irrigation system. Homes are restricted to watering three days a week on certain days: Homes with odd numbered addresses can water Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.- Homes with even-numbered addresses can water Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Apartments, condominiums and businesses can water Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Water Department held a public information session at the Pacific Beach/Taylor Library on May 26. Forty people turned out to ask questions that are paraphrased below: Question: Will the Mission Beach Yacht Club be regulated to watering only on weekdays? Boat owners must rinse off seawater from their boats to protect their motors. Will they only be able to do this on certain days? Answer: Ruiz told a yacht club board member that the club could apply for a variance and continue its usual watering practice until the variance application is reviewed. Ruiz said the city does not intend for the water restrictions to hurt investment made into properties. Ruiz indicated the Water Department would expect the yacht club to conserve water in other ways if the variance is approved. Residents that file for a variance must pay a $25 fee. Medium-size users must pay $50, and large companies – $100. Question: Why is the city continuing to issue building permits when southern California is facing a drought? Answer: Ruiz said that decision lies with the mayor, City Council and Planning Department and that he personally supports a balanced approach to the issue. Ruiz noted that the city has not been able to sustain itself on its own water supplies since 1944 when the Navy began to develop the area and the federal government paid for imported water. He added that a Level 3 drought would place a moratorium on all water meters, however. Question: Can residents run ornamental water fountains? Answer: All decorative water fountains must use a re-circulating pump. Fountains must only run as long as needed to maintain the infrastructure, another example of the city’s intent not to damage property. Question: How will the city enforce the water restrictions? Answer: Ruiz told the audience that code compliant officers must make contact with the homeowner first before issuing a Notice of Violation. Ruiz said the intent is to educate the public and to fine repeat offenders. One-time offenders will likely not be fined, according to Ruiz. Question: Why does the county prohibit residents from using gray water? Answer: Ruiz said that the county’s Department of Environmental Health is concerned about potential cross connection between pipes causing gray water to cycle back into the portable water system and make people sick. “We are working with the county’s Department of Environmental Health so that it does not take such a draconian approach to the gray water cross connection,” Ruiz said. Question: Will golf courses be forced to comply? Answer: Golf courses will be forced to follow the restrictions when watering their fairways but greens and tees are exempt. For more information about the water restrictions visit www.sandiego.gov/water