Water

The Water Division of the Public Works Department provides safe, quality drinking water for our customers and ensures sufficient water service to street hydrants for fire suppression. We are closely monitored by several State of California regulatory agencies to guarantee compliance with Federal and State mandates.

Water Service Requests

To start or stop water service, or if you have payment concerns, contact the Finance Department-Utilities at (559) 665-8615, ext. 783.

City Permit Needed to Drain Your Pool

A permit is required before a swimming pool can be drained, which will add the pool water to the wastewater treatment system. City personnel must test the pool water to ensure there is very little algae growth and no excess chemicals. Contact the Finance Department-Utilities at (559) 665-8615, ext. 783, with enough advance notice to process a Special Water Use Permit application request and issue a permit before draining your pool.

Conserving Our Water

Fresh potable water is vital to our community, and it is never appropriate to waste this valuable natural resource. By encouraging appreciation of the value of our water and educating consumers on efficient water use and conservation practices, we help to ensure a sustainable water supply both now and in the future.

City personnel strive to educate property residents to comply with the State of California regulations. Each inquiry is handled as soon as possible, and limited resources may not allow the City to provide a direct or immediate response. If you want to submit a comment or ask a question about watering regulations, schedules, property owner concerns, or other water-related topics, please Email the Water Division about where your inquiry can be reviewed for action.

Outdoor Watering Schedules

Outdoor watering schedules help conserve water during the ongoing drought conditions statewide and ensure the continued provision of safe drinking water to all customers.  There are two outdoor watering seasons:  Summer and Winter.  

SUMMER SEASON (April 1 - October 31)

Click HERE to download a printable version of the summer schedule.

Summer Season:     May water two (2) days per week
Residential, Multi-Family, and Commercial Business Properties

Even-numbered addresses [0,2,4,6,8] can only be watered on Tuesday and Saturday
Odd-numbered addresses [1,3,5,7,9] can only be watered on Wednesday and Sunday

Schools, Parks & Common Areas (Greenhills Landscaping)            
Can only water on Monday and Friday

WINTER SEASON (November 1 - March 31)

Click HERE to download a printable version of the winter schedule.

Winter Season:        May water one (1) day per week
Residential, Multi-Family, and Commercial Business Properties

Even-numbered addresses [0,2,4,6,8] can only be watered on Saturday
Odd-numbered addresses [1,3,5,7,9] can only be watered on Sunday

Schools, Parks & Common Areas (Greenhills Landscaping)            
Can only water on Friday

Watering Regulations

The Chowchilla City Council has enacted regulations to comply with the California State Water Resources Control Board emergency regulations for statewide urban water conservation during the ongoing drought conditions. The City of Chowchilla is obligated to adhere to the Municipal Code and follow legal procedure to issue written warnings, citations, and administrative penalty fines for multiple ongoing offenses.

  • Property residents are required to follow the seasonal watering schedule for their automatic irrigation controllers (set times) and for hand-watering (with a shutoff nozzle).
  • An open-flowing hose is prohibited from irrigating landscapes, trees, flowers, lawns, gardens, etc.   Property residents must attach and use a shutoff nozzle.
  • Excess water is prohibited from flowing along street gutters more than twenty-five (25) feet from the front of the property.
  • Property residents who choose to wash their vehicles are required to attach a shutoff nozzle to the hose and are prohibited from using an open-flowing hose.  It is encouraged to limit the time spent washing vehicles.
  • Washing parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks is prohibited.
  • Properties are required to obtain a Special Water Use Permit from the Public Works Department before draining swimming pools at any time throughout the year. Before draining into the wastewater treatment system, pool water must be tested by City personnel to ensure there is very little algae growth and no excess chemicals.

Administrative Citations

The City of Chowchilla may find cause to issue an Administrative Citation due to possible municipal code violations, including non-compliance with seasonal outdoor watering schedules and irrigation regulations. Visit the Administrative Citations page for more information and Appeal Requests.

Education

The City of Chowchilla’s Public Works Department strives to educate the community on the established watering rules and regulations.   Notices are posted on billings, websites, community outreach pages, and flyers.  City personnel make an earnest effort to provide helpful information.   Residents are encouraged to visit the City of Chowchilla’s Conserving Our Water web page at https://cityofchowchilla.org/188/Water.

The City is obligated to adhere to the Municipal Code and follow legal procedures to issue written warnings and citations, along with administrative penalty fines for multiple ongoing offenses.  A written Administrative Watering Citation “Warning” is always issued with zero penalties as a courtesy reminder of the watering rules and regulations.  Administrative Watering Citation “Penalty” will impose a penalty fine per violation and will be certified by mail. A flow restrictor may be applied for multiple ongoing offenses, and/or water may be shut off from services.  

Numerous resources are available online to assist with setting up an irrigation controller system. Search for information on your particular controller brand and model, and follow the instructions to properly set up and operate your irrigation system.   If you are still unable to make the needed repairs to your irrigation system, please contact a landscape maintenance company to assist you with any questions or concerns regarding your irrigation system.

Special Water Use Permit

Properties are required year-round to obtain a Special Water Use Permit with a 72-hour notice before:

  • Draining a pool: City personnel must test the pool water to ensure there is little algae growth and no excess chemicals before draining it into the wastewater treatment system.
  • Watering the new lawn or landscaping on additional days/times
  • Hosting a car wash event 

To obtain a Special Water Use Permit application and begin the permit process, contact the Finance Department-Utilities at (559) 665-8615, ext. 783, with a 72-hour notice. 

Water Quality and Consumer Confidence Report

The California State Department of Health Services requires the Annual Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report, which is provided to all city water customers. The report summarizes the water quality sampling results for all of our water customers for the prior year. The current version is available by clicking the preferred link.

Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report - English
Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report - Spanish

2020 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

In December 2021, the City, per CA Department of Water Resources (DWR) requirements, completed the City of Chowchilla 2020 Urban Water Master Plan (UWMP). UWMPs must be prepared by California's urban water suppliers every five years to support their long-term resource planning and ensure adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water demands, which includes potential future developments, such as Rancho Calera. Assessing water service reliability under various conditions, including prolonged drought, is the fundamental purpose of the UWMP. The report projects through the year 2045 and assesses that the current and projected water supply is being met and is anticipated to be met by using the City’s existing groundwater source. Click Here to review the plan.