L.A. citing thousands who break drought rules; worst offenders could face flow limits

Roughly 4,000 citations have been given out over the last year to Angelenos who violated the city’s new drought-driven water rules, the top executive at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said today.

DWP general manager H. David Nahai told an audience at the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum that the vast majority of those citations were given to first-time offenders, each of whom got off with a warning. Nevertheless, the city’s roving team of Drought Busters did give citations – and fines -- to 68 second-time offenders and nine third-time offenders.

Three DWP customers have been cited four times and, during their most recent offense, were issued a $300 fine, Nahai said. In each case, the offenders had “unattended leaks” – leaks found on pipes, sprinklers or irrigation lines, DWP officials said.

If those offenders are caught once more, they could be forced by the DWP to install flow restriction devices on their water meters, limiting the flow of water to one gallon per minute.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed new drought rules into law in August, limiting the times that residents and business owners are allowed to water their lawns and gardens. He won passage of a more strict set of regulations earlier this year.

The rules also require restaurant owners not to serve water unless specifically asked. Looking at the pitchers of water served during today’s address at the Wilshire Grand Hotel, Nahai told the audience: “I expect to see every glass of water here drained to the last drop.”

-- David Zahniser at L.A. City Hall

Comments

[Brian]

"The rules also require restaurant owners not to serve water unless specifically asked."

A symbolic, and silly, 'drop in the bucket' compared to water used for lawn watering and agriculture.

[David]

The restaurant water thing has to do with saving the water it takes to wash the glass. I agree though...just a drop in the bucket and kind of silly. Most people will order something to drink with their meal. You're not saving much.

[Shezebelle]

Is there a place you can report violators?

[hector]

if they want to look for water wasters, then start at the top of their own organization. Have a seperate entity inspect the million dollar homes of City Hall, Police departments, fire, schools, water co. you'll see that they are the biggest drain (pun intended) for all the water wasted. how does grass and trees grow? with water. how are all those homes kept so green and lush? water.

[Jerry]

It may be silly, but it is a necessary step. By the way, lawn watering has been restricted to two days a week (Monday and Thursday). Violators should be penalized with fines, prohibitally high water rates and finally water cut-offs. This is no joke.

[Chris]

We live in a desert... we should have NEVER wasted water regardless of how much we had (ah typical greedy, spoiled, wasteful Americans - even with water). NOW, look were we are! Pay attention to climate change my friends...

[jeff]

They might have issued 4k, but i haven't even gotten one and i water 2 times a day,every single day. Guess the 4k number is boggus as i haven't even gotten a warning and i am trying hard to get caught. So what is up LADWP?

[Jeffrey]

So what are the restrictons? How about listing them so that those of us who would like to remain in the lines of the law will know what they are not to do.....

[sirene]

DWP needs to cite themselves, for the broken pipes in Elysian Park - we thought it was a natural spring, until we realized it was a water pipe leak! it has nicely feed the plants and in that section of the trail, it looks grean and lush and completely unlike Southern California.

[citizen]

glad I don't live in the City. If people want to use water let them. Water, greenhouse, etc. Just another overreaction by a bunch of environmentalists and tree huggers.

How much money can the city save by getting rid of these "Drought Busters"? If they want to save water, just make it cost more by billing not sending ridiculous tattletalers out...

Stupid Gov't...

[RM]

How about banning any more development in Los Angeles? Clearly, if we don't have enough water for the people already living here, then we don't have water for new development either.

And you really think wealthy people on the west side are going to stop watering those ENORMOUS lawns every day? Really?

Or how about golf courses? It's okay for the golf courses to be lush & green but I can't water my 600sqft lawn more than twice a week?

Love this city.

[jorge]

well i say change some of the local laws on lawns. in most cities in LA you can't change your lawn to gravel or quartz, my parents live in Phoenix and they have a quartz lawn. its very beautiful. but most places in southern ca will give you a ticket or court order to get grass in your lawn. let people do what they can and not bug them with fees and penalties.

[Seriously?]

Jeff - are you serious? You water 2x a day, every day? Are you just being antagonistic? Drought or no drought, that is such a waste. A waste of water, YOUR money and, if it's to prove a point, your energy. Besides, it weakens the roots and causes thatching.

[SHERMAN TANK]

The biggest abusers of water are the Homeowners Association. And Guess What?? They are exempt from the watering laws. Go figure. They water day and night and soak their lawns. They have pools and laundry rooms and spas, you name it. Why does Los Angeles Building and Council allow more high-density buildings when we are strapped for money and water? I just don't get it. Our Mayor has a lot to answer for!

[Larry]

We have no less than 7 MAJOR apartment buildings being constructed in less than a 4 mile radius from our house. ALL of these lots were either vacant, or were less than 1/8 of the density, than what is being built now. So huge increases in water demand, and huge increases of traffic on our already heavily congested streets. It's all about payola to the Building Dept and city officials. Everyone is right in that LA is a semi-arid desert and NEVER should have been allowed to get this big. I have lived in LA off and on since 1956, and this city has never had planners that were worth a damn. And we should be rewarded for geting rid of the lawns and putting in rock lawns like we had in Phoenix.

[Louweegie272]

I believe that this is a manufactured crisis to drive up our water bills to tax us without actually calling it that. Look at the DWP's charts. Reservoirs are at 85% capacity.

[gary myers]

get gray water recycling going and encourage permeable concrete block drives / walkways. Give relief to the sewer system and let the recycled water percolate back into ground.

gary

[zach Woodford]

when you are brushing your teeth and watching your facet on full power running water right down the drain think of how far that water came. hundreds of miles away. so much water, time, and energy wasted for nothing. some people on this planet walk miles and miles for water. some don't even have that luxury.

stop being lazy and turn it off. think about it.

you have no excuse :)

[Charly]

To me the 4000 thousand number is just bs number that don't exist. I drive during the city everyday and i can see sprinklers running in a lot of places. It sounds like city is trying to scare people and i raither take my chanes of getting sitation then have my yard that is worth over 5k die. Also the water restrictor that city can try to force on you to get after 5th citation is probably unconstitutional and i for sure would challange it in court. That alone should take couple of years.

[MARTIN]

what about parks are they gerin fine the park next to my home had the water running 2 days july ,4, 5, 24 hrs ,and i see the workers using water evry day to water the grass and the side walks
i call the hot line d w p she says will send the waterf busters no one came i e mail the mayor office and his son jose huizar no responce
what d w p is doing they goin after any of us to collect money yet there dont want to fix any probles the goverment of los angeles are doing wasting water
did any of you get youre water bill water whent upthis month and they are goin to have another one in october 1 2009
this politicians and d w p are crooks and liars

[Responsible Westsider]

I'm in the process of pulling out my grass lawn and replacing it with drough resistant native plants. I have three sides done, one to go. I've heard that the city will pay me for every square foot I convert but I don't want the money. I'm doing my share because it is a cause in which I believe.
Those who think this is a manufactured threat or who pride themselves with wasting as much money as they desire need to wake up and take a look at the facts. Do your own research from a variety of sources. You will see that this is real and perhaps become more responsible citizens.

[Seriously?]

I heart Responsible Westsider. :-)