ALHAMBRA, Calif. — When Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency because of the historic drought, it became mandatory for cities to implement new water restrictions.

The City of Alhambra has several new measures for residents and business owners to abide by.

Ryan Natividad always had dreams of owning his own business. When he lost his job after the pandemic hit, he thought it was the perfect opportunity to open Bagel Exchange Alhambra.

“[It’s] the only bagel place in like a 20 mile vicinity,” he said.

It is also one of the few places you can use crypto currency to buy your breakfast, hence the name.

Natividad combined his two loves in one location and said it has been going great, but he is cognizant of any waste, donating left over bagels and skipping out on a water filtration system for drinking water that he said many customers waste, anyway.

“A lot of people like to drink half of the water cup and throw it away,” he explained.

It is the reason the City of Alhambra included this on their list of water restrictions now mandatory within city limits.

Deputy Director of Utilities, David Dolphin said no restaurant, hotel, cafe or cafeteria can serve drinking water, unless customers ask for it.

It is one way they are hoping to encourage water conservation amid the historic drought.

“A lot of people don’t take that into consideration in their everyday lives,” Dolphin explained. “We have a shortage of water, especially mounted with the shortage of rain for this season. It’s been back to back for the last two years.”

Another restriction is that residents who use the city water division cannot water the landscape between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“They’re only able to water their lawn twice a week,” Dolphin added. 

Residents also are prohibited from filling, or even maintaining, water levels in decorative fountains, ponds or lakes unless using recycled water and no washing cars, boats or trailers unless they have a working shut-off valve on their hose.

Dolphin also said the city is passing out a five-minute timer for showers. They are encouraging residents to shorten showers, saying if everyone follows the new guidelines, they estimate a 20% reduction in water consumption.

“These small measures can amount to massive amounts of savings if each person does their particular part,” he explained.

Natividad said he is happy to do his. After all, the new business owner adds, there is an incentive to conserving water.

“Save on water, less expenses,” he said.

City staff said these mandatory conservation measures will be in effect until the state declares a water shortage no longer exists.

For a full list of new restrictions in Alhambra, visit cityofalhambra.org and click “Drought Updates.”