Mandatory water cuts could come to Pleasanton as soon as this week.
The Pleasanton City Council will vote on Tuesday whether to implement mandatory 15% reduction in water use amid the punishing statewide drought.
City staff recommended that councilmembers declare a Local Drought Emergency and a Stage 2 water shortage, the latter of which would mandate 15% water reduction compared to the same time period last year. The Zone 7 Water Agency, a water wholesaler serving retailers in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and San Ramon, made the same declarations in a Board of Directors meeting last month.
Pleasanton, as part of Alameda County, currently is experiencing exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In August, the first full month following California Gov. Gavin Newsom's recommendation that Californians reduce their water usage by 15%, Pleasanton reduced its water usage by 8%, according to city figures. The Tri-Valley area reduced its water usage by 7% in July, the report said.
City staff didn't recommend charging drought rates or levying penalties for excessive water use. Zone 7 isn't charging drought rates to retailers, either. That could change, however, if the drought worsens.
Pleasanton staff advised the council to hire part-time workers to staff a drought call center and control assistance program. Those temporary employees would be tasked with responding to reports of leaks, water waste "and general non-compliance" with citywide reductions.
The Pleasanton City Council will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m, and city residents can offer comments via Zoom. The meeting will be broadcast on Tri-Valley TV and the City of Pleasanton YouTube channel.
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