Q: Am I being impacted by one-day-a-week watering?

A: Restriction applies to 1/3 of SoCal residents.

The restrictions have been put in place by an “Emergency Water Conservation Program requiring member agencies dependent on SWP (state water project) deliveries to immediately cut water use by implementing one-day-a-week watering restrictions, or the equivalent, by June 1.

The affected agencies include Calleguas Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District.” 

Source: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

https://www.mwdh2o.com/newsroom-press-releases/metropolitan-cuts-outdoor-watering-to-one-day-a-week-for-six-million-southern-californians/

Q: Will my landscape survive once-a-week watering?

A: It depends on how much water is applied once a week. Your landscape will have different water requirements dependent on:

• - regional weather conditions throughout the year (inland/marine)

• - type of plant (shallow roots, deep roots)

• - new planting (once a week will be very difficult)

• - and soil conditions

No details have been released by Metropolitan Water District on timing or allowable irrigation cycles for the once-a-week restriction or the equivalent.

Q: Should I install a lawn in June?

A: Check with your local city ordinance to determine water restrictions specific to your area. Installing any new landscape will require watering more than 1 time per week.  Multiple watering cycles are needed to establish young growing roots.  Even if you plant a drought-resistant landscape, it may not survive one time a week watering; roots need to be developed.  Keep in mind that irrigation cycles must be short enough to target the developing root zone, meaning although you need to water multiple times a week, those times need only apply small amounts of water.

Q: If I install Marathon Sod, will you honor the replacement guarantee?

A: We stand behind our product and are here to assist in keeping your lawn healthy.  Unfortunately, the replacement does not apply if you fail to adequately maintain your lawn.  No landscape will survive without adequate watering.  If you are not able to irrigate correctly, you should not install any landscape.

Q: If I’m not in the impacted restriction area should I be concerned?

A: California has a water supply problem. Until the infrastructure is built and managed properly, we will continue to have water shortages.  Only 10%-11% of all of California’s water use is for Urban needs (residential use) which includes 4% for residential landscapes.  If all landscape is removed, California would save 4% of water, hardly solving the water “crisis”. The tradeoff for these savings would significantly impact the environment, jobs, property values, and mental health of many Californians.   

Q: What can I do about this?

A: 

1. #1- Ask for specific details from your city agencies


2. #2- Talk to your local representative about the status of California’s infrastructure projects


3. #3- Take a close look at your irrigation system and determine if you are irrigating as efficiently as possible.  This includes watering by evapotranspiration, which factors in the local climate.  There are several “smart” controllers that will do this. Smart irrigation controllers could save a significant amount of water.


4. #4- Engage your representatives to advocate for other realistic solutions to maintain your landscape.