For City hours and services, visit Accessing City Services for details and Coronavirus Updates for COVID information. 

On June 10, the State Water Resources Control Board enacted a new emergency regulatory action in response to California's Drought Emergency. 

Commercial, Industrial & Institutional Customers:  Use of potable water is prohibited for the irrigation of non-functional turf (solely ornamental and not regularly used for recreational, civic or community purposes). Visit Valley Water for more information.

Residential Customers :  Outdoor irrigation is restricted to a maximum of two (2) days per week.

Outdoor watering is restricted to a maximum of two (2) days per week for residential customers:

The watering of food-producing plants using a watering can, a hose end sprayer with automatic shut off or drip irrigation is allowed and does not fall under the above restriction. The City asks that residents water edible plants between 6PM and 9AM for maximum water efficiency.

  Helping Our Urban Trees Help Us

Trees need the right kind of watering to mature into carbon sequestering, urban cooling powerhouses. Deep watering sends roots deep into soil, making trees hardier during drought and preventing surface roots from causing damage. Deep watering yields less water long term. 

Solid Foundation for New Trees

Keeping Old Trees Strong Through Drought 

Established trees do best with heavy, slow watering.

Check your soaker hose's gallon-per-hour output and calculate accordingly. A 50-foot hose watering ½- to 1-gallon per foot per hour must run for about 2 hours to deliver 50 to 100 gallons. It sounds like a lot of water, but at three times per year, the total water cost is less than $3.00, much less than replacing a hard-working tree! 

Pick up FREE water-saving devices from the Water & Sewer Utility at City Hall during regular business hours (Monday – Thursday, 9AM-12PM & 1PM-3PM ) or order directly from Valley Water free of charge for the item & shipping. 

Size/Dimensions: 1" x 1" x 1". Male-thread aerator reduces faucet flow to a rate of 1.5 gallons per minute. Ideal for kitchen faucets. *Not WaterSense Certified. 

Size/Dimensions: 1" x 1" x 1". Male-thread aerator reduces faucet flow to a rate of 1.0 gallons per minute. Ideal for bathroom faucets. *Not WaterSense Certified.

Size Dimensions: 4" x 3" x 2.5". High pressure, low volume with push tab to reduce water flow without changing temperature.

Size/Dimensions: 4.5" x 3.5" x 3.5". Constructed of durable, high grade vinyl; fits most plastic flush valves. Easy to install, fits 2-inch flush valve openings. Included are: (1) Vinyl Flapper and (1) Stainless Steel Chain.

Durable garden hose nozzle features 7 spray settings. Using this type of positive shut-off nozzle in your garden is required: 2.5 gallons per minute compared to an open garden hose using up to 10 times the water!

Probes up to 6-inch depth. Valuable tool to check moisture level in your soil and prevent over-watering.

1/8", magnetized and protected with a vinyl safety tip. Handy flathead screwdriver helps with simple adjustments to fixed sprinkler heads and other select irrigation equipment.

Water Use Prohibitions in Effect July 12, 2021

The City of Santa Clara implemented its modified Water Shortage Contingency Plan Stage 2 in response to the local drought emergency declared July 13, 2021, extended statewide October 19, 2021.

Citywide Water Use Restrictions and Prohibitions 

Per Section 1.C of the City’s Water Service and Use Rules and Regulations, the following restrictions and prohibitions remain in effect at all times:

Prohibited for All Water Users

Prohibited for Businesses, Construction & Restaurants

Hotels/motels shall provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily. Notice of this option shall be displayed prominently in each guestroom using easily understood terms and language.

What the City of Santa Clara is Doing

On June 9, 2021, Valley Water Board of Directors declared a water shortage emergency condition in Santa Clara County and called for a mandatory 15% reduction in water usage countywide. On June 22, 2021, The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution ratifying a June 15, 2021 proclamation by the County Director of Emergency Services for a local emergency related to extreme drought conditions. On July 8, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom extended his previous drought proclamation to include Santa Clara County and again extended the previous proclamation to include the whole state on October 19, 2021.

City Manager Deanna J. Santana in her role as the Director of Emergency Services declared a local drought emergency for the City of Santa Clara. On July 13, 2021 the Santa Clara City Council unanimously voted to ratify the emergency proclamation.

For questions, email water@santaclaraca.gov for information.

To report water waste in your neighborhood, complete and submit the online form.

For additional questions, contact the Water & Sewer Utilities at:

Email:  water@santaclaraca.gov

City of Santa Clara 1500 Warburton Avenue Santa Clara, CA 95050

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