The Long Beach Water Department (LBWD) is advising residents to give their sprinklers a break this week and let mother nature do the work. 

Long Beach is expecting to receive over an inch of rainfall this week, making this the perfect time for residents to conserve water by turning off their sprinklers, said Kaylee Weatherly, spokeswoman for the LBWD.

“We are happy for the mild rainfall relief we are receiving this week, but that doesn’t mean the drought is over,” said Harry Saltzgaver, President of the Board of Water Commissioners, in a statement. “Residents and businesses still need to take necessary actions to conserve as much water as possible to ensure a reliable water supply next year, including turning those sprinklers off.”

The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners declared a Stage 1 Water Supply Shortage two weeks ago that requires residents to only water their lawns on Mondays and Thursdays until the end of March 2015.

“Winter is the easiest and most crucial time for residents and businesses to conserve water this year,” said Kevin Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. “Shutting off sprinklers during our wet months (November-March) will provide the much needed conservation to get us through this drought.”

The LBWD reminds residents of the following water restrictions:

• • Residents and businesses can only irrigate landscape on Mondays and Thursdays until March 31st, 2015
  • Residents and businesses can only irrigate landscape 10 minutes per station per watering day, or 20 minutes if using water-efficient rotating nozzles
  • Residents and businesses can only irrigate landscape before 9am or after 4pm
  • Residents cannot fill swimming pools and spas with potable water
  • Restaurants cannot serve water to customers without the customer requesting it
  • Residents and businesses cannot irrigate the landscape beyond saturation, causing significant runoff
  • Residents and businesses cannot hose down hardscape with a hose, unless using a pressurized cleaning device
  • Residents cannot wash a vehicle with a hose unless it has a water shut-off nozzle or device attached to the hose
  • Residents and businesses cannot allow the wasting of water due to breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the plumbing or distribution system
  • Hotels and motels must post signs to notify patrons they can choose not to have linens and towels washed daily