The City of Lincoln has moved to STAGE 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

The City of Lincoln's Water Shortage Contingency Plan outlines actions the City and customers should take during drought or a water shortage emergency.

Per the Governor's Executive Order on March 28, 2022, the City of Lincoln has moved to Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Below are a summary of actions included in stages 1 and 2.

To learn more, read the full plan.

 Stage 1: “Heighten Water Use Efficiency” - 10% Conservation

The following best practices are voluntary and will be reinforced through local and regional public education and awareness measures.

  1. Pools and spas require covers.
  2. Customers must repair leaks, breaks, and malfunctions within five days.
  3. Operation of ornamental fountains that do not have a recirculating system is prohibited.
  4. Unreasonable amounts of runoff from landscape irrigation is prohibited.
  5. Outdoor irrigation shall not occur during precipitation events or within 24 hours of a rain event that produced .20 inches of precipitation or more.
  6. Hoses require automatic shutoff.
  7. Operators of hotels, motels, and other commercial establishments offering lodging shall post in each room and at each site, a Notice of Drought Condition, approved by the Director of Public Works.
  8. Restaurants may only offer water upon request.
 Stage 2: “Water Conservation" - up to 20% Conservation

In addition to Stage 1, the following actions are mandatory during Stage 2.

  1. Outdoor irrigation is prohibited between the hours of 8am and 9pm.

  2. Outdoor irrigation of ornamental turf shall be limited to no more than three days per week.

  3. Use of potable water for washing of hard surfaces is prohibited.

  4. Commercial, industrial, institutional non-functional turf must not be watered. Exceptions apply:

    1. Effective June 10, 2022, commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) non-functional turf must not be irrigated in California pursuant to recently adopted State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) regulations. Homeowners Associations’ common areas, unless it meets one of the other exemptions listed below, are included in this turf irrigation ban. 

    2. The State has defined non-functional turf as, “Turf that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational purposes or for civic or community events.”

    3. The State Water Board’s regulation states that some turf areas are exempt from the turf irrigation ban. The CII turf may still be watered after June 10, 2022 if the property owner or account holder determines that one or more of the following is true:

      1. The turf is used for human recreation, civic purposes, sports or play.

      2. The turf is irrigated with recycled water.

      3. The turf is irrigated with non-potable water (non-potable water is not permitted for use as a drinking water supply).

      4. The turf is on the same valve as at least one tree or perennial non-turf plantings.

      5. The turf is owned by a resident or within an apartment complex, not at a commercial, industrial, or institutional location. The exception to this is common areas in Homeowners Associations sites. Unless one of the above exemptions applies, HOA common areas are included in this turf irrigation ban.
This emergency regulation adopted under Water Code section 1058.5 may remain in effect for up to one year, unless rescinded earlier, or extended by the State Water Board.