This is the latest version of Malibu Mayor Laura Rosenthal’s periodic column in which she answers questions from the community about issues of concern and interest.
Are there any rules in the City of Malibu about when I can water my lawn?
Homeowners can only water their landscaping between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. These hours allow for the greatest absorption of the water into the ground. However, if you use drip irrigation or a hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle, you may water anytime. In addition, this restriction does not apply to parks, schools, playing fields, agricultural uses and commercial nurseries, and irrigation with reclaimed water.
How often?
There are no restrictions on the frequency of landscape watering in the city. However, many of us overwater our plants and lawns. Water less often and your plants will thrive!
-Adjust your sprinklers and watering schedules for seasonality; plants need less water in the cooler months and remember to turn off your sprinklers after a rain event or when you know one is arriving. This will save money as well as conserving water.
-Use efficient irrigation systems and smart irrigation controllers with rain shut-off valves.
-Don’t water the road! Make sure you are only watering vegetation.
-Native and drought tolerant plants use less water and are naturally adjusted to our local climate.
What happens if water leaves my property sometimes? Is that OK?
The Malibu Municipal Code prohibits any water to run off your landscaped areas onto adjacent property and streets. When this happens, it is usually due to misdirected or broken sprinklers or just from excessive watering. Most of us have seen water flowing down streets during dry weather that is coming from someone’s driveway or yard. This is banned and can either be reported to the city, or a friendly phone call to your neighbor would be helpful too. Our environmental specialists can contact homeowners and explain the rules and help them come into compliance. Lastly, if you need to empty your pool, all of the water must be disposed of on your property (without affecting adjacent properties) or hauled off by an appropriate water-hauling vehicle.
Can I wash my car at my house? Anywhere in Malibu?
The simple answer is “yes.” Individual car washing and garage washing at private residences are not prohibited per se; however, residents may not allow fluids to run off their property. Some tips to consider when washing a car at home would be:
-Use dry methods (rags, towels) for surface pre-cleaning or waterless washing or a steam cleaner.
-Use pressure washing to reduce the amount of water needed.
-Protect or cover up drains to prevent discharge of wash water offsite.
-Consider using vacuum pumps, wet/dry vacuums or absorbents to collect the water.
-Check out the “Surface Cleaning as Part of the Solution” on the city’s website [malibucity.org].
Remember, any substance, including surface water, that enters the storm drain system flows directly into creeks, streams and the ocean without treatment. Cleaning off your driveway or sidewalk and allowing this water to flow into the storm drainage system violates municipal, state and federal stormwater regulations.
Lastly, the coast of Malibu is part of an Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) that runs from Latigo Point to Laguna Point. These special coastal areas are afforded even greater protections and have additional regulations that govern runoff, waste discharges, storm drains and land use. The city has received grants from the state to install facilities in the ASBS to catch and treat runoff from two neighborhoods, as well as funding for a Coastal Preservation Specialist, a position dedicated to conducting education and outreach with the Malibu community.
There is a lot of information here, but there is much more to learn about how to keep our landscaping and our waterways healthy. Our Environmental Sustainability Department is dedicated to these goals and is available to address your questions or concerns:
-Casey Zweig, Coastal Preservation Specialist. CZweig@MalibuCity.org
-Jennifer Brown, Senior Environmental Programs Coordinator, JBrown@MalibuCity.org
-Questions submitted by Roz Radcliff