Sacramento's water conservation rules will become a little simpler and tougher, as the City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted new language to police water waste.

The rules are not necessarily a response to a third year of drought gripping California. They don't impose any immediate new controls on water consumption.

Rather, the goal is to update an antiquated conservation ordinance and make it a bit easier to enlighten scofflaws.

"It's kind of a day of reckoning for individuals who have been living in a different behavior pattern with water use," warned Councilman Kevin McCarty.

Several observers praised the city for finally updating the rules, but warned it should be viewed as a first step.

"It's also a small step, and I'd like to encourage the council to look forward to some other measures you have to take," said Chris Brown, executive director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council. For instance, he said, "Studies have shown, in the Southwest, that two-times-a-week watering is sufficient for turfgrass."

Though many Sacramentans don't seem to know it, city rules have long limited landscape irrigation to three days a week, based on odd or even street addresses. Those rules will remain in place most of the year.

The biggest change in the new rules, however, limits landscape irrigation to only one day a week during winter, defined as the period in which standard time is in effect – generally November through early March.

Irrigation will be banned on permitted watering days between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. – two hours longer than under the old rules.

Also, it is now forbidden to wash a car without a shutoff nozzle attached to the hose. Cars can only be washed on permitted watering days.

Perhaps most significantly, the fine structure is changing. As before, a first violation earns a warning. But now a second violation costs $25 – waived if the perpetrator completes an education class.

Third violations are $100, and additional violations are $500 each.

Previously, no fines were imposed until the third violation. This, city officials said, made enforcement difficult, sometimes requiring repeated visits to a property to correct a single violation.

The new rules take effect in 30 days and are considered important to prevent water waste because the vast majority of residential water customers – about 104,000 – are unmetered. Until customers see their actual water use in monthly bills, and feel it in their pocketbooks, encouraging conservation is difficult.

The city has a plan to meter those connections gradually by 2025 to comply with state law.

Much of the state continues to suffer from a third year of drought, especially farms and communities south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which are dependent on imported water.

The Sacramento region appears likely to avoid shortages this year because of a wet spring.

"That being said … and we don't know what the weather is going to be like next year," said John Woodling, executive director of the Sacramento Regional Water Authority. "So we're always pushing people to use water efficiently and wisely."

The city also risks state enforcement against water-rights holders who abuse the resource, a threat driven by the reality that water is being stretched thin by a growing population.

"It's very, very important to really impress upon our citizens that things are different," said Councilman Rob Fong. "This is a great first step, but we have to recognize we have a way to go."

Current drought restrictions vary in the capital region, largely depending on each community's water source. Sacramento, which has ample water rights in the American and Sacramento rivers, has no restrictions.

Folsom and Roseville, which depend on federal water purchased from Folsom Lake, have imposed 20 percent conservation orders.

Spring rain and snow have improved the picture since then, at least locally. The American River is predicted to have near-normal runoff this year. Folsom Lake holds 118 percent of average capacity for this date.

"We're in a lot better position than we were in January and early February when some of those (drought) actions were taken," Woodling said.

As a result, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has told some urban contractors in the region to expect supplies to increase beyond the 65 percent delivery forecast in April. Its next forecast is expected May 20.

Call The Bee's Matt Weiser, (916) 321-1264.