Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors limits outdoor watering

Santa Cruz County is tightening limits on outdoor watering in light of the continuing statewide drought.

The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed an emergency ordinance that prohibits watering landscapes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The ordinance also limits watering to no more than two days per week. Watering more than two days per week will be allowed if the resident is using either a bucket/watering can or a drip irrigation system.

The restrictions mirror similar steps taken by water districts throughout the county, but this new emergency ordinance helps ensure there’s uniformity of rules on a county-wide basis.

The county doesn’t supply water, but the ordinance makes all water users in the county subject to the limits — no matter what water district provides their water.

The new regulation doesn’t affect commercial growers.