Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
August 15, 2008
1. Top Items -
Los Angeles
The Los Angeles
Stricter Limits Placed on
Fox 11 News Los Angeles- 8/14/08
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Los Angeles
The Los Angeles
By David Zahniser, Staff Writer
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed an ordinance Thursday that doubles fines for residents who repeatedly violate the city's "drought buster" rules, including a reworked ban on watering lawns between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The measure bars restaurants from serving water to customers unless it is specifically requested. And the ordinance will quadruple fines for large customers of the Department of Water and Power, mainly businesses, that break the city's water-waster law.
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The anti-drought initiative has coincided with efforts by Villaraigosa to keep his top appointee at the DWP, Commission President Nick Patsaouras, from quitting his post. Perhaps the utility's most aggressive watchdog on spending issues, Patsaouras sent a resignation e-mail Monday, but the mayor refused to accept it.
Villaraigosa said his appointee had repeatedly talked about leaving the volunteer post and about being "overworked." Patsaouras serves on a panel overseeing construction of the new $454-million police headquarters.
"He's talked to me about resigning more than a few times. Each time, I get him to realize that we need him," Villaraigosa said.
Patsaouras would not discuss his conversation with the mayor but sent a brief text message to The Times saying he would stay put "to fulfill the mayor's vision."
Villaraigosa discussed his appointee as he stood near two of the city's 16 "drought busters," inspectors who will issue fines to those caught violating the new rules two or more times. The team will look for various violations, such as washing cars with a hose that lacks a shut-off device.
One resident questioned whether the city was being fastidious about its own water usage. West Los Angeles resident Eric Shabsis said he had seen sprinklers running during the day outside the
"If residents are being asked not to water their lawns between 9 and 4, shouldn't the city follow the same policy?" asked Shabsis, a onetime aide to former Mayor James K. Hahn.
A Times video posted Thursday shows water waste at Venice Beach and at a DWP facility in the San Fernando Valley. DWP spokesman Joe Ramallo said city officials would fix the problems.
"Clearly, there's work to be done," Ramallo said, adding that the agency switchboard was "flooded with calls about all kinds of potential violations."
Under the new rules, DWP customers are prohibited from using hoses to wash down their sidewalks and driveways, unless there is a public safety issue or a pressure washer involved. The law also bars residents from watering their lawns when it rains.
Anyone who sees a violation may call (800) DIAL-DWP. The hotline has received 2,400 complaints since last summer, Ramallo said.#
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-water15-2008aug15,0,3644867.story
Stricter Limits Placed on
Fox 11 News Los Angeles- 8/14/08
Residents are now prohibited from watering their lawns between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and from watering more than 15 minutes a day.
The previous ordinance, passed in 1990, banned outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from April 1 to Sept. 30 and between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Oct. 1 to March 31.
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Residents are also prohibited from using a hose to wash off paved surfaces and must use a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle when washing their cars.
Residential DWP customers who violate the rules will receive a warning and could be fined $100, which is double the old fine of $50 for a second-time offense. The fine for businesses that violate the rules quadrupled to $200. Repeat residential offenders can be fined up to $300 and commercial customers up to $600.
"It is a blunt recognition that we face a water shortage in this city, and it is a visionary road map as to how we are going to provide for water supplies here in the city," said DWP General Manager David Nahai. "The water conservation ordinance aims to heighten awareness and it aims to change behavior."
The
The DWP has distributed placards to 4,200 restaurants and 900 hotels to explain the restrictions to customers.
"We're reminding residents and businesses that sometimes an empty glass might be the best way to go," Villaraigosa said.
The ban on water in restaurants is not new, but the DWP plans to step up enforcement of all aspects of the ordinance.
In the last year, six utility employees, dubbed "drought busters," have responded to 3,400 incidents of inappropriate water usage, mainly excessive watering, washing down driveways and broken sprinklers. DWP is expected to increase the number of drought busters to 15 in the next month.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought on June 4. In the event that the water situation worsens in the city of
The water restrictions and fines are part of the 20-year water conservation plan announced in May by the mayor and Nahai.#
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