Santa Clara County works to enforce mandatory water use cutbacks

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- It's not an easy process to impose the state's planned 25 percent mandatory water use cutback. In some areas, such as Santa Clara County, each city must pass an ordinance and the goals may not be uniform.

It appears there's agreement on one thing - lawn sprinkling will be limited to twice a week throughout Santa Clara County. The permissible days will be determined by odd or even address numbers.

However, the 15 cities in the county may not have uniform water saving goals. That's because the state water board has recommended goals that differ from city to city.

Morgan Hill, for example, is being asked to cut back 35 percent. San Jose is a much lower 20 percent.

The Valley Water District is seeking a 30 percent goal.

The city of Santa Clara intends to match that, while San Jose is said to be considering a 25 percent goal.

Valley Water wants the state water board to allow its higher goal to apply county-wide.

Once resolved, who will enforce it?

"It's a staffing issue for many. They don't have the staffing to be enforcing watering schedules so there's a potential that, if we have the authority here at the water district, perhaps in certain areas we could help," Valley Water District spokesman Marty Grimes said.

It also has an app for people to report and take pictures of water waste. A staff of four inspectors is being expanded to seven.

"It's not tattletaling. It's trying to do the best we can. Why should you be penalized? We're all going to be penalized. If people have these big, elaborate swimming pools, well God bless them. But this ain't the time. We all got to share the responsibility," Valley Water District board member Richard Santos said.

However, some people say they'll speak to water wasters rather than turn them in.

"I'm not going to turn them in but I'm going to tell them, please, can you turn off the water? Because I'm doing it at my house - small showers, no grass," San Jose resident Manuel Pacheco said.

A final vote on the statewide water cuts is three weeks away.

For water rebate information from Bay Area water suppliers, click here. And click here for tips on how to conserve.

Click here to report water wasters to ABC7 News.

For full coverage on the drought, click here.