Pasadena Outdoor Watering Schedule

Outdoor irrigation currently limited to two days per week to preserve water supply.

In Pasadena, the following instances of water waste are prohibited:

• Outdoor watering is limited to two days per week at most: Even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays and Thursdays. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Fridays. (effective April 1, 2023);
• All watering must be done before 9 a.m and after 6 p.m.;
• All property owners must fix leaks, breaks, or other sprinkler system malfunctions when they find them, or within 48 hours of receiving a notice from PWP;
• Filling or re-filling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited, except as needed to sustain aquatic life; and
• Pasadena's watering schedule applies to all residential customers, including multi-family complexes such as apartments and condominiums.

Permanent Water Waste Prohibitions

Pasadena also has Permanent Water Waste Prohibitions in place, which include:

• No watering outdoors between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., except with a hand-held container or hose with a shut-off nozzle, or for very short periods when adjusting a sprinkler system;
• No watering during and within 48 hours after periods of significant rain;
• No water flow or runoff: Watering or irrigating any lawn, landscape or other vegetated areas in a manner that causes or allows runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots or structures is prohibited; and
• No excessive water flow or runoff onto pavement, gutters or ditches from watering or irrigating landscapes or vegetation of any kind.

Exemptions

These restrictions do not apply to the exemptions outlined in the Pasadena Municipal Code, which include:

• Landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use low flow drip type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than 2 gallons of water per hour;
• Watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, or a hand-held hose equipped with a water shut-off nozzle or device;
• Watering for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system;
• Maintenance of trees as necessary to sustain their health and viability;
• Maintenance of vegetation, including fruit trees and shrubs, intended for consumption; and
• Maintenance of landscape for fire protection.

Water Waste Ordinance & Water Supply Shortage Plans

Pasadena has been an early adopter of water conservation, with a City Council- approved water waste ordinance in place since 2009.  To help the City adapt and respond to drought emergencies as needed, the ordinance lays out four levels of Water Supply Shortage Plans for Council consider and adopt. Depending on the severity of a drought emergency, each level provides additional restrictions to accompany the permanent water waste prohibitions. Summary chart below. Please note: Pasadena has been in a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage Plan effective Sep 2021.