Media Corner

Eastern Group Publications, Inc.
June 12, 2008

Local Water Agencies Call for Conservation, Fines

Plan calls for limited watering times and escalation of measures taken if drought lingers

By Karl Zynda, EGP Staff Writer

One week after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought, a Water Supply Alert has been issued by the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.

The alert, issued Wednesday, calls for cities, counties and local public water agencies, such as the Central Basin Municipal Water District, to conserve water by alerting the public to the drought and educating it about water saving practices, creating and enforcing water use ordinances, and development of additional local water supplies. The Central Basin Municipal Water District, which serves Bell Gardens, Montebello, Monterey Park, and part of Commerce, buys water from the MWD.

While California's water supply never has recovered from the dry 2006-2007 rainy season, the state's water shortage has recently been worsened by a record-setting dry spring, low snowpack water content, and a federal court ruling that protects an endangered fish, the delta smelt, by limiting the amount of water that can be drawn from the Sacramento River Delta.

Colorado River water supplies have also diminished annually by as much as 50 percent since 2003. Dry conditions along the river for eight of the past nine years have reduced the supply of available Colorado River water.

"In declaring this Water Supply Alert, we are confident that consumers and businesses throughout the Southland will take additional steps to reduce water use and eliminate waste," MWD board Chairman Timothy F. Brick said.

The MWD is a water wholesaler that serves 26 cities and water agencies in six counties with water that supplies 18 million customers. It imports water from Northern California and the Colorado River.

In Los Angeles, where residents get their water from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, LADWP, an updated water conservation plan approved by the city's Water and Power commissioners, would prohibit lawn watering between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Watering would be limited to 15 minutes a day. Hosing off paved surfaces would be prohibited. Cars could only be washed with a hose with a self-closing shut-off device. Restaurants would serve water only on request. Hotels and motels would give guests the option of reusing their linens. Excessive runoff and leaky plumbing is also prohibited.

Residential water users in violation of the ordinance will first receive warnings, and then will be subject to $100 and $200 fines for second and third offences. Commercial water users will also first be warned, and then will be subject to $200 and $400 fines for second and third offences.

Water conservation measures under the ordinance could escalate according to the severity of the shortage. Non-watering days and prohibiting car washing could be enacted.

Enforcement will be carried out by the LADWP's Drought Buster Team. The Drought Busters have already been patrolling Los Angeles for a year, reminding water wasters of prohibited uses and handing out water-saving tip sheets. Under the changed ordinance, the Drought Busters will issue citations. Repeat offenders will be fined on a sliding scale depending on the amount of water waste. The fine will be added to the customer's LADWP water bill.

The water conservation plan is pending the approval of the Los Angeles City Council and the mayor. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has given his support to the plan to fine customers.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for an $11.9 billion water bond in his 2008-09 budget proposal. The money will be spent on water storage, delta sustainability, river restoration projects, water conservation and improved water quality.