The Stage 1 Water Shortage Warning is no longer in effect. Drought resources will remain available through the winter transition period. Water supply conditions will be monitored over the winter, and another shortage may be declared if necessary.

This page contains information for Multi-Family account holders. If you are a Multi-Family resident, and not an account holder, please contact the person that is responsible for your water bill.

Multi-family residential properties have a unique set of challenges when it comes to reducing water use during a drought. One of the biggest challenges these properties face is the coordination of water saving efforts between the utility account holder, the property manager, and the residents. In order for a multifamily property to succeed during drought, each of these parties has a role to play, and everyone must work together toward the common goal of water savings.

The City of Santa Cruz is currently in a Stage 1 Water Shortage Warning. During a Stage 1, residential properties are assigned water allotments that are based on the number of dwelling units and number of occupants. The City of Santa Cruz Water Department is asking that utility account holders, property managers, and residents work together to stay within their water allotments. While this year we are asking for voluntary compliance, future droughts may lead to the need for excess use penalties. Staying within your allotment now will be helpful in avoiding penalties in the future.

The following resources were developed to help account holders bring all involved parties together, understand their property's water allotment, and reduce excess water use. While the account holder should lead the effort, success depends on the coordinated actions of everyone involved with the property. 

Allotment Structure

Allotments are based on the number of dwelling units and the number of occupants.

• Each dwelling unit with up to three people is allotted 4 CCF if the property has a dedicated irrigation water account.
• Each dwelling unit with up to three people is allotted 5 CCF if the property does not have a dedicated irrigation water account.
• A greater water allotment can be provided for each additional person over three per household.

Example: A multi-family property with 10 dwelling units, and no dedicated irrigation, would have an allotment of 50 CCF per month. 

Log on to WaterSmart

The department has recently provided customers with a new web portal to provide customers detailed water use information. The portal allows you to

• Update your occupancy
• Track your water use
• Diagnose a high bill
• Set alerts for unusual usage
• Receive important and/or emergency notifications from the Water Department

Click here to be taken to the WaterSmart portal.

Requesting a Greater Allotment

Account holders must update their property's occupancy using the "Multi-Family Total Resident" form on the WaterSmart portal in order to receive a higher water allotment. Alternatively, account holders can update occupancy by giving us a call at (831) 420-5220.

You may be asked to produce occupancy documentation in the form of a Multi-Family Census Sheet. Click here for the Multi-Family Census Sheet.

Greater allotments can also be granted for health and safety reasons. Please contact our office at (831) 420-5220 for information on requesting a healthy and safety adjustment.

Reading Your Meter

Want to learn how to read your meter and track water usage in between billing reads? Visit our meter reading page here.

Resources

• Multi-Family Residential Drought Response Guide - English
• Guia de Conservacion del Agua para Multi-Familia - Español
• Multi-Family Total Resident online form
• Multi-Family Census Sheet
• Multi-Family Efficiency Survey 

To read out Water Shortage Contingency Plan, click here.