Emergency Irrigation Restrictions Lifted by Thousand Oaks Water Providers, Outdoor Watering to be Allowed Two Days per Week

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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.—California Water Service (Cal Water), the City of Thousand Oaks, and California American Water are moving back to a two-day-per-week watering schedule for outdoor landscaping in April, after winter storms helped ease state water shortage conditions. This comes after Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) lifted emergency water restrictions for the area recently; those restrictions had been in effect since June 1, 2022.

Beginning April 1, residents may water on the following days as outlined below, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. (excluding California American Water's El Rio customers):

  • Addresses ending in an odd number: Wednesday and Saturday
  • Addresses ending in an even number: Wednesday and Sunday

Even though irrigating is allowed twice per week, please confirm water is needed before turning on the sprinklers, representatives from all three suppliers say. With all of the local rain and cooler weather so far this season, irrigation will likely not be necessary for at least another four weeks. Watering during or for 48 hours following measurable rainfall (1/4 inch) is still prohibited.

"We encourage our residents and businesses to take advantage of the cooler weather and high amount of local rain this year to plant regionally appropriate California natives now for a sustainable year-round landscape that will survive future, highly variable water supply conditions," said Cliff Finley, City of Thousand Oaks Public Works Director.

"We thank our customers for their conservation efforts over the past year and ask that they continue to be mindful of their water use," said Doug Varney, Cal Water's Westlake District Manager. "We appreciate this wet winter, yet also recognize that climate change and increasingly severe droughts will continue to impact our water supply. While we continue to take steps to ensure a reliable, future water supply, customers' conservation efforts are equally important, so we urge them to keep using water wisely."

"California American Water acknowledges and sends a big thank you to our Ventura County customers for their great work conserving water. Overall, customers decreased water use by about 17 percent the past two years," said Jessica Taylor, California American Water Director of Operations. "Even with recent wet weather, it's essential all water users continue to be mindful of water usage."

The water suppliers all have conservation programs, rebates, and water-saving devices to help their customers save water. More information can be found at each supplier's web site at:

About California Water Service

California Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water utility services to about 19,500 people through 7,100 service connections in Westlake, and about 2 million people through 494,500 service connections statewide. What sets Cal Water apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers and communities. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, the utility's employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity. Integral to Cal Water's strategy is investing responsibly in infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The utility has been named one of "America's Most Responsible Companies" by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work®. More information is available at www.calwater.com.

About the City of Thousand Oaks

The City of Thousand Oaks is a premiere community recognized for being one of California's most desirable places to live, work, recreate, and raise a family. The City serves approximately 17,500 water customers in the center of the City. With a focus on the sustainability of our natural resources, the City continues to stay actively engaged in resource management and long-range planning. Learn more about the City at www.toaks.org.

About California American Water

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 700,000 people.  Information regarding California American Water's service areas can be found on the company's website www.californiaamwater.com.

Released March 28, 2023