Residents in Malibu, Topanga and Marina areas must cut water use or face higher bills

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today declared a “water shortage emergency" in Malibu, Topanga Canyon and Marina del Rey, requiring residents to cut water consumption.

Residents in those areas must reduce the amount of water they use by 15% or face higher water rates, according to county documents.

Households affected by the rules receive their water from the L.A. County Department of Public Works. Customers will get more details in the mail. Officials cited the continued dry conditions and various legal issues that have reduce water supplies.

On Monday, the city of Los Angeles began mandatory water conservation restrictions aimed at reducing the city's water use by 15%. Residents are required to use their sprinklers only on Mondays and Thursdays, and customers who don't cut their water use could face higher utility bills.

-- Shelby Grad

 

Comments

[Kit]

It would be nice if the council followed this advice. The sprinklers are on all the time when I'm driving along Admirality in MDR. Half the time they're watering the concrete and missing the grass!

[Andrea]

This is an idiotic way of reducing water usage. So those of us who have always been responsible, xeriscaped our lawns years ago and take short showers, now have to somehow cut our usage by 15% (from where, exactly? ) while those who have been irresponsible can just go from using sprinklers 5 days a week to 4 and face no consquences?

[Pedro Roc]

Don't think it is 15% reduction from current use, but 15% reduction from base rate. So if base rate was 100 gallons, now it is 85 gallons (just examples). And if you go over that base (85), you will be charged a higher rate. Those who already below the base rate have nothing to worry about.

[Mike]

I think it is pretty clear that the first places where water usage has to be cut is the most unneccessary water usage. I would argue that that category would include the hot tubs, pools, and plethora of fountains found in the wealthy homes of these areas. Merely increasing rates a little will not do much; after all when you own a 20 million dollar home what's another 100 bucks on your water bill? There has to be a substantial increase to deal with this matter, in my opinion.