Water Emergency Your Government Our Community City Departments Water Emergency Phase I Water Regulations Phase II Water Regulations Residential Allocation Calculator Water Shortage Penalty Structure Phase II Penalty Forgiveness Program Phase II Established Watering Days Water Exception Permit Leak Adjustments During Water Emergency How to Stay Informed Resources Water Advisory Board Contact Information Water Allocation Information water@cityofsthelena.org 707-968-2745 Exception Permits Martin Beltran MBeltran@cityofsthelena.org 707-968-2746 View Full Contact Details Water Emergency Residential Allocation Calculator: Link On June 23, 2020, City Council adopted a resolution establishing Phase I Water Regulations based on Code Section 13.04.230 where conditions requiring the establishment of a Phase II water emergency, as determined by the Director of Public works, appear to be imminent. At the time of the emergency, the City had extremely low rainfall (20"), a forecast for a potential multi-year drought, and Bell Canyon Reservoir was at 60% capacity. Water operations had also implemented changes to conserve Bell Canyon water usage by optimizing Stonebridge Wells and City of Napa water use. The forecast was for a potential Phase II trigger by November 2020. On October 13, 2020, the Public Works Director informed City Council that a Phase II Water Emergency had been triggered on October 1, 2020. The trigger system utilizes data the water treatment operators submit in a monthly water production report. The September 2020 water report was delayed due to the September 27, 2020 Glass Fire and was not available in time to bring a Phase II emergency for discussion and consideration to City Council. As of October 13, 2020, Bell Canyon was at 399.8' and 39.4% capacity. Prior to September 2020, the City had been slightly above the Phase II trigger with customer water use on par with the prior year; however additional water loss has since occurred due to continued high temperatures (evaporation at reservoir) and water usage for fire suppression needs during the LNU Complex and Glass wildfires (City staff is actively researching how much water was utilized for fire suppression activities). It is known that treated water was accessed from fire hydrants and non-treated water was sourced directly from Bell Canyon Reservoir. At the October 27, 2020, City Council Meeting, the St. Helena City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-107 making the determination that conditions requiring the establishment of a Phase II water emergency exist and as a result directed City staff to enact a Phase II Water Emergency in accordance with the St. Helena Municipal Code (SHMC). Penalty Forgiveness Program The initial estimate of water penalties for customer use more than prescribed allocations equates to approximately $2.9 million spread over 900 customers. Given the scale of the calculated penalties and this being the first time penalties have been imposed, the City Council approved a Penalty Forgiveness Program.For more information about the program, please here. To review the staff report on the Penalty Forgiveness Program, please click here. Flume Smart Home Water Monitor Rebate Program On August 24, 2021, the City Council approved a partnership with Flume to offer rebates to St. Helena water customers for the purchase and installation of a Flume Smart Home Water Monitor. This partnership is to help the City of St. Helena and its customers to achieve their goals of reducing water demand. The Flume device will allow customers to view total daily use in gallons, provide live water status, and provide live system alerts that can be sent directly to a customers cell phone. Through this program the City is offering a $100 rebate for the Flume Smart Home Water Meter Device with a cap of $20,000 for the program. The City of St. Helena has partnered with Flume Water to bring you exclusive savings on the Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor. Flume’s revolutionary device allows you to monitor your water use right from your smartphone 24/7. It will even alert you to possible leaks. Flume installs easily in just minutes and it gives you the power to: Monitor your indoor and outdoor water use anytime from anywhere Reduce your water bills with monthly budgets Detect and put a stop to leaks immediately For a limited time only, St. Helena residents can get a Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor for just $65 plus tax and shipping! Here’s how it works: Purchase your Flume System for $90 plus tax and shipping. Install your Flume System (you can do it yourself) Automatically get $25 refunded back to your credit card. Act soon! A limited number of Flume Smart Home Water Monitors are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Get Offer: https://flumewater.com/sthelena Recognizing many residents have already purchased a Flume device, the City Council authorized the implementation of the program effective July 1, 2020 when the Phase I Water Emergency was declared. In order to receive a rebate for a Flume Smart Home Water Monitor previously purchased, please complete and submit: Flume Smart Home Water Monitor Rebate Application. Watering Days Established In accordance with SHMC 13.04.230 Subsection B.4., outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf with potable water is limited to no more than two days per week. In order to decrease demand on the City's water system on any given day, outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf is limited to the following: Odd numbered addresses - Allowed to water on Tuesday's and Friday's ONLY Even numbered addresses - Allowed to water on Monday's and Thursday's ONLY In addition, please remember that outdoor irrigation can only be done between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. How to Stay Informed City Council Reports: August 10, 2021 - Discussion and Direction Regarding Analysis of Select Non-Residential Water Customer Categories (Churches/Cemeteries, City, Schools) August 10, 2021 - Review and Forecasting of City Water Supply Availability July 27, 2021 – Review of urgency ordinance amending Chapter 13.04 of the Municipal Code to address the criteria for initiating phased water regulations and the conservation measures for commercial, industrial, and institutional users. July 27, 2021 – Consideration of a resolution approving a penalty forgiveness program related to June and July 2021 water usage penalties July 27, 2021 – Discussion and Direction Regarding Draft City of St. Helena Water Security Framework July 13, 2021 – Presentation of June 2021 Water Meter Reads and Penalty Overview; Discussion and Direction Regarding City Council Water Ad Hoc Committee Phase II Water Emergency Usage Penalties Recommendation April 27, 2021 – Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.04 of the Municipal Code to address the criteria for initiating phased water regulations and the conservation measures for commercial, industrial, and institutional users April 27, 2021 – Adoption of Penalty Structure for violation of the City’s Phase II and Phase III water regulations April 13, 2021 – continued to April 27, 2021 meeting: Adoption of Penalty Structure for violation of the City’s Phase II and Phase III water regulations April 2, 2021 – Phase II Water Discussion – City Council Special Meeting March 23, 2021 – Phase II Water Shortage Emergency Penalty Structure Discussion and Direction February 23, 2021 – Informational Report on City of St. Helena’s Safe Yield Analysis, Related Water Emergency Regulations, and Water Neutrality Policy January 12, 2021 – Appointing Members to the Water Advisory Board December 8, 2020 – Update on the City of St. Helena Water Supply and Phase II Water Emergency October 27, 2020 – Establishment of Phase II Water Regulations June 23, 2020 – Establishment of Phase I Water Regulations St. Helena Star | Napa Valley Register July 13, 2021 – St. Helena offers forgiveness-for-compliance program for $2.9 million in water ration penalties City of St Helena E-News: Visit the City's Subscription Sign Up page and Check the box for “St Helena News Alerts." Enter your email address and click Subscribe. You'll then receive a confirmation email, follow last step on your confirmation email in your inbox. SHINE Newsletter: View the SHINE Newsletter on the City’s website at https://www.cityofsthelena.org/community/page/shine Social Media: Follow the City of St Helena on Facebook Exception Permit Process SOP-FI-0021 Application and Use of Exception Permits Water Regulations Water Exception Permit Form Resources 2021 Water Conservation Phase II Restrictions Conservacion del agua 2021 Restricciones - Fase 2 Drought Fact Sheet Frequently Asked Questions How to Read Your Water Meter St. Helena Municipal Code (SHMC) Phase I: Section 13.04.230 Phase II: Section 13.04.240 Water Conservation Tips Water Conservation Tips - Saving Water Around the Yard Leak Adjustments During the Water Emergency Leak Adjustments The City of St. Helena is committed to preventing water waste but also understands that, infrequently, a water leak may occur. When a water leak does occur, customers can request a credit to their utility bill for a portion of the excess water in accordance with P-FI-0005 Leak Adjustment Policy. This policy provides relief to St. Helena Water Customers who have had a leak that is not due to negligent or willful acts. Under the current Leak Adjustment Policy (P-FI-0005), leak adjustments are not be granted if the City is in a Phase I or higher water emergency or subject to water use limitations by the State of California. However, recognizing the City's conservation efforts as well as the authority granted under P-FI-0005 for Leak Adjustment Appeals, any request for a leak adjustment during a Phase II or Phase III emergency are being evaluated by the City Manager. The Leak Adjustment Appeal form can be found at the bottom of this page. Penalties Incurred as a Result of a Leak In addition to the ability to qualify for a leak adjustment, the City recognizes that during a Phase II or Phase III water emergency, penalties may have been incurred as a result of a leak. On July 27, 2021, the City Council adopted a resolution designating that the Water Advisory Board can hear/make a determination for reduction of penalties for those customers who received a penalty as a result of a water leak. On August 6, 2021, the Water Advisory Board adopted policy - P-FI-0022 - Leak Adjustment Policy - Phase II and Phase III Water Penalties, to assist those customers who incurred penalties as a result of a water leak. Both policies can be accessed by clicking on the individual policy numbers in the above section or through the resources listed below. Applications for both the Leak Adjustment Appeal and the Leak Adjustment Water Penalties are available below. Water Advisory Board With the declaration of a Phase II emergency the City Council shall cause a Water Advisory Board to be formed consisting of: Anna Chouteau, Council member Dan Hale, Planning Commissioner Diana Ortiz Brent Randol George Schisler The members of the Water Advisory Board were appointed at the January 12, 2021 City Council Meeting. Water Advisory Board Agendas and Reports: July 16, 2021 - Agenda June 18, 2021 - Agenda June 4, 2021 - Agenda May 26, 2021 - Agenda April 30, 2021 - Agenda City of St. Helena Water Emergency Related Communications and Press Releases: May 2021 SHINE Newsletter: Update on Phase II Water Regulations & Water Conservation March 2021 SHINE Newsletter: Update on Phase II Water Regulations & Water Conservation March 1, 2021: Update on Phase II Water Regulations English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) City Seeking Volunteers to Serve on the Water Advisory Board Water Advisory Board Application for Appointment November 10, 2020: Additional Info - Phase II Water Regulations English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) November 2020 SHINE Newsletter: Phase II Water Regulations November 2, 2020: Implementation of Phase II Water Regulations English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) July 2020 SHINE Newsletter: City Enters Phase I Water Regulations July 2020 Utility Bill Insert: Every Drop Counts June 26, 2020: Implementation of Phase I Water Regulations English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Penalties for Inefficient Water Use - Sanciones por Uso Ineficiente del Agua (310 KB) Water Emergency Allocation Exception Form (73 KB) SOP-FI-0021 Procedure for Water Emergency Exception Permit (165 KB) Water Conservation Tips | Saving Water Around the Yard (9 MB) Drought Fact Sheet (185 KB) Information on Reading Your Water Meter (1008 KB) SHINE Newsletter | Update on Phase II Water Regulations & Water Conservation - May 2021 (12 MB) PRESS RELEASE | Update on Phase II Water Regulations & Water Conservation (157 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Update on Phase II Water Regulations & Water Conservation (Spanish) (151 KB) SHINE Newsletter | Update on Phase II Water Regulations & Water Conservation - March 2021 (8 MB) Water Advisory Board Application for Appointment (118 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Additional Information on Phase II Water Regulations (176 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Additional Information on Phase II Water Regulations (Spanish) (153 KB) SHINE Newsletter | Phase II Water Regulations (82 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Water Shortage Emergency Condition Requiring the Implementation of Phase II Water Regulations (124 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Water Shortage Emergency Condition Requiring the Implementation of Phase II Water Regulations (Spanish) (124 KB) SHINE Newsletter | City Enters Phase I Water Regulations (335 KB) July 2020 Utility Bill Insert | Every Drop Counts (180 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Implementation of Phase I Water Regulations (124 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Implementation of Phase I Water Regulations (Spanish) (124 KB) Water Conservation Tips (342 KB) Conservacion del agua 2021 Restricciones - Fase 2 (735 KB) 2021 Water Conservation - Phase II Restrictions (742 KB) PRESS RELEASE | Water Crisis Opportunity for Community to Pull Together, Unite Towards Shared Goal (274 KB) Estimated Meter Read Dates - Ciclos De Facturacion Estimados (615 KB) Help End St. Helena's Water Crisis - Ayuda a Poner Fin a La Crisis del Agua en St. Helena (167 KB) Mandatory Outdoor Watering Restrictions - Restricciones obligatorias de riego en exteriores (111 KB) P-FI-0005 Leak Adjustment Policy (2 MB) Leak Appeal Application - Non-Residential (205 KB) Leak Appeal Application - Residential (272 KB) P-FI-0022 Leak Adjustment Policy - Phase II and Phase III Water Penalties (167 KB) Leak Appeal Application - Phase II and Phase III Water Penalties (69 KB) Flume Smart Home Water Monitor Rebate Application (119 KB) City of St Helena | 1572 Railroad Avenue | St. Helena, CA 94574 Home Sitemap Staff Login a municode design