ESCONDIDO -- Residents and businesses can only water their landscaping three days per week under restrictions approved Wednesday by the City Council.

But the rules, which take effect July 1, were revised to exclude a moratorium on yard fountains and to allow the city to continue liberally watering the grass in some heavily-used city parks.

The restrictions were triggered by the council declaring a "Level 2" water emergency, which many other cities and water agencies have done this spring.

The water agencies are responding to a recent San Diego County Water Authority decision to limit deliveries by 8 percent. San Diego County's water shortage is the result of the continuing state drought and new restrictions on pumping water from Northern California into Southern California.

Escondido residents and farmers have done an excellent job conserving water since the council adopted some less drastic restrictions in October, said Lori Vereker, the city's utilities director. They have reduced overall city usage by 7.2 percent, just short of the 8 percent goal.

"People have done a really good job conserving, but we need just a little bit more," Vereker told the council Wednesday.

The rules adopted Wednesday limit restrictions even further than three days per week during the rainy season. From November through May, residents and businesses can only irrigate one day per week.

From June through October, odd-numbered addresses can water their landscaping on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Even-numbered addresses can irrigate on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. And apartments, condominiums and businesses can irrigate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

In addition, the rules limit the length of irrigation to 10 minutes per cycle.

When city officials created a list of preliminary water restrictions last fall, the rules for a Level 2 water emergency did not include exemptions for city parks. But when it became clear this spring that the council would need to declare a Level 2 emergency, city officials decided to include such an exemption, Vereker said.

"We feel that some of these parks are used at such a high level that it would be counterproductive to let the grass die," she said.

After the meeting, Vereker said the exemption would almost certainly apply to Kit Carson, Grape Day and Washington parks. She said the city is still analyzing usage and watering costs for other city parks.

The exemptions stirred no controversy on the council. Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler said they were warranted, but none of her colleagues addressed the issue at all.

Another key change from restrictions drawn up last fall was eliminating a moratorium on yard fountains. Vereker said that change was based on many factors, including the city's reluctance to shut down the gigantic City Hall fountain and the relatively small amount of water lost to evaporation from fountains.

She said other factors were a sharp backlash this spring when the city of San Diego adopted a similar restriction, and the difficulty of enforcing the rule without going into everyone's yard. The fountain moratorium is now slated to take effect if the council declares a Level 3 water emergency.

The city has not come up with a detailed plan to enforce any of the restrictions. But city officials have said that first offenses would probably receive only a warning, with fines coming after that.

Pfeiler said she often gets questions from residents about washing cars. Vereker said the rules adopted last fall, which have not changed, allow residents to wash cars on their property as long as the car is parked on grass instead of pavement.

Vereker said the city might also adopt punitive rate increases against excessive water users if conservation efforts do not yield better results this summer and fall. She said all customers should expect "pass-through" rate increases of roughly 15 percent this fall because suppliers have raised their rates.

In other business, the council endorsed a plan to celebrate the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, with a "freedom walk" from Grape Day Park to the corner of Broadway and Grand Avenue, where the names of victims will be read. The event will be held in conjunction with the Cruisin' Grand classic car show slated for that night.

Contact staff writer David Garrick at 760-740-5468.