Vacaville residents take note — July 1 marks the day city drought regulations take effect.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved proposed rules regarding date limitations regarding outdoor watering, penalties for excessive water usage and fines for violating water regulations. Also approved were proposed seasonal water allocations.

City Utilities Director Royce Cunningham said the proposal includes key changes from what the city’s previously done.

Mayor Len Augustine advised that the city not be rigid regarding the new regulations, that staff continuously re-evaluate the city’s status regarding the state’s mandated 32 percent reduction and react accordingly.

“We certainly want to be flexible,” agreed Cunningham. “We don’t want to keep placing restrictions on our citizens if they’ve gone above and beyond.”

The director said he plans to return to the council at summer’s end and present a report then and hear any suggestions.

At issue is the city’s response to the state’s continuing four-year drought. In May, Gov. Jerry Brown released water reduction goals for each California city based on 2013 usage rates. Vacaville’s goal is 32 percent.

Cunningham has explained that that’s a cumulative goal, though last month residents managed to cut back by a whopping 34 percent.

On the whole, 83 percent of residents are doing exceptionally well, he said, but 17 percent need work.

The city already approved restricting outdoor watering to two days a week from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

On Tuesday, it clarified that the watering schedule would only apply to lawns and large areas using a sprinkler system. The schedule allows:

• Homes on the north side of Interstate 80 to water on Mondays and Thursdays.

• Homes on the south side of Interstate 80 to water on Tuesdays and Fridays.

• Businesses to water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

• Parks and schools to water two days a week of their choosing.

“Parks are spread out through the city, schools are spread out through the city,” Cunningham said. The goal is to find a balance on watering on both sides of the city, he continued.

The penalty for excessive water use will be a flat percentage instead of a fixed dollar amount — enough for a homeowner to take notice without providing financial hardship. The penalties aren’t about making money, the director said.

Seasonal allocations, or water rationing, would place usage at 12 units per household of five at 12 during the winter (November to February), 18 during the spring (March to April), 24 during the summer (May to August) and 18 in the fall (September to October).

An additional two units per person, up to a maximum of eight, can be applied for.

As for fines for violation regulations, they’re as follows:

• First offense: Education.

• Second offense: $50 citation that can be waived by taking a water conservation class.

• Third offense: $100 fine.

• Subsequent offenses: Fines increasing in $50 increments to a maximum of $500 in a calendar year.

Staff plans to researck “rollover units.” That is, unused allocated water that homeowners can either save for another month’s use or donate to another person or organization,

For more information, including the staff report, visit http://bit.ly/1LpqFw9.

For tips on conservation, visit www.cityofvacaville.com/savingwater.

To sign up for a free survey of your property with tips on saving water and money, call 410-5469.