Outrageous! - LA County Imposes Mandated Water Use Restrictions In Response to Drought!

[TomCADem]

I see how so many folks are outrage that health care reform may involve individual mandates, which are a restriction on our liberty and freedom. My question is whether Los Angeles's water use restrictions are also a similar infringement? Also, by imposing fines on high water users, isn't that a form of tax? What about households with large families?

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/water-rules.html

:evilgrin:

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The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved new water conservation measures that will restrict the use of lawn sprinkler systems to Mondays and Thursdays for all Department of Water and Power customers. We asked the DWP how the new rule will work.

Does this mean I can only water my garden on Mondays and Thursdays?

No. Only automatic sprinkler systems are restricted. Hand watering using garden hoses fitted with shut-off nozzle devices is allowed on any day but not between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. DWP has found that people who water their lawns by hand tend to be more careful about how much water they use. But when a sprinkler system is left unattended, the lawn is more likely to become oversaturated and the excess water runs off into the drainage system.

Why does everybody have to use their sprinkler systems on the same day?

This makes it easier to enforce the new rule.

How will the rule be enforced?

DWP has a water conservation team whose members drive through neighborhoods in Los Angeles checking for water waste. If your sprinkler is running on a Wednesday, they can cite you for violating the conservation measures. For a first citation, you will receive a warning. Subsequent citations are subject to a fine, which starts at $100 but can run up to $600. You can help by notifying investigators of potential violations. Call [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

When does the rule go into effect?

June 1.

Is this the only new water restriction?

No, the DWP has announced a new rate structure to encourage conservation. It also goes into effect June 1.

How will the new water rates work?

Under the current system, single-family households are allocated a certain amount of water at the cheapest billing rate. This is known as your Tier 1 allotment and is determined by three measures: the lot size, its location and the number of household members. You pay a premium rate for every additional gallon you use in a billing cycle.

Under the new system, your Tier 1 allotment will be reduced by 15%. Say you get 1,000 gallons today, your new Tier 1 allotment will be 850 gallons. As soon as your water usage hits 851 gallons in a billing cycle, the premium rates kick in.

If you do not exceed your reduced allocation, DWP says your bills will actually go down. But if you have to Pay Tier 2 rates, you will see your water bills increase dramatically.

So how do I find out my new Tier 1 allotment?

After May 1, you can go to the DWP website, enter your customer number and address, and you will be told your Tier 1 allotment.

How do I reduce my water consumption by 15%?

DWP anticipates that most people who cut their outdoor watering to two days a week will realize that 15% savings.

Are we likely to see more water restrictions?

If everybody abides by the new rule, DWP does not anticipate needing to apply any further restrictions. But if conservation goals are not met, DWP could ask the City Council to restrict sprinkler usage to one day a week and then to ban them altogether.

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[robo50]

1. Outrageous! Everyone should be able to use all the water they want until

all the water runs out!

That makes more sense?

[BlueJazz]

2. We didn't have all these silly rules until the Democratics got elected.

Next they'll be telling us how fast to drive.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. slightly off topic: The mandated water days is suspected as a cause for all the water main breaks.

The system is getting overwhelmed by everyone watering on just two days a week and LA is having water main breaks daily...unintended consequences?

[TomCADem]

4. Actually, not using water may raise water pressure...

...resulting in a rupture in the water main. So, be careful what you ask for. The restriction may actually work, and people may use less water, which increases the pressure on the water system.

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. Interesting. Had no idea. So these systems need use to remain in good shape

[TomCADem]

10. Conversely, a break in the water main causes water pressure to plummet

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_13254810

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A water main break has caused low water pressure in a number of Pasadena neighborhoods and business areas.

The break happened at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday when workers were preparing to replace an aging valve as part of Pasadena Water and Power's master plan for water infrastructure.

Officials anticipate that water pressure will be back to normal by 6 p.m. tonight. The incident has not impacted the water pressure for response to the Station Fire.

While repair work is being conducted, water service will be shut down completely until about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on Sunset Avenue between Hammond and Mountain; and Mountain Avenue between Sunset and Raymond.

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[kestrel91316]

5. Unfortunately, drought-tolerant landscaping plants like daylilies are now

dying at my apartment because, in this godawful summer heat, watering them once a week is simply not enough.

I think since the watering is at night, and only once a week, they could allow it to go on a little longer. Deep, infrequent watering makes plants more drought tolerant, after all.

[Igel]

6. Lots of differences.

More than one of them is sufficient to render the parallel void.

Try these two, for starters: 1. City council is authorized to make rules that stipulate water usage requirements. It's in the charter, and has been for a while. 2. The fines are to paid for something you do, not something you don't do--there's no mandate to use city water. Don't use too much water, or on the wrong days, and you're free and clear. If you don't use the service, you're not covered by it.

[DBoon]

7. obviously the republican solution is to privatize the water system

that way private owners could raise prices sky-high, eliminating the need for rationing and coincidently making their buddies who bought the privatized utilities filthy rich

Sort of like what they did with electricity a few years ago

[Hansel]

9. We've had watering restrictions for decades.

But they are odd/even day restrictions. Other cities have odd/even and time of day restrictions.

I just deep water and try only to water the lawn once a week. It seems to work better and the lawn is healthier than when I use to water every other day.

But restricting watering to 2 days a week for everyone seems silly and counterproductive. The reason for our restrictions is to prevent low water pressure as a result of everyone watering at the same time. This prevents issues with fire fighting.