A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 05, 2009
2. Supply –
Eastern Municipal Water District passes mandatory use limits
Riverside Press Enterprise
One of the Inland area's largest water agencies adopted mandatory water-use restrictions Wednesday as part of its efforts to deal with
Starting March 1, customers served by Eastern Municipal Water District, including 130,000 households in Moreno Valley, Hemet and unincorporated areas, will be required to stop hosing down driveways, water lawns only at night or in the early morning, and prevent landscape irrigation from creating runoff.
"Our district is way ahead on this," said Randy Record, a district governing board member. The vote for the restrictions was 4-0.
Residents who violate the rule against excess runoff will get two warnings and then face penalties of $25, $50 and $100 for third, fourth and fifth violations, respectively. The owners of institutional, commercial and industrial properties will get two warnings and heftier fines: $100 for a third violation, then $200 and $300. The penalties will be tacked onto water bills.
Below-average rainfall, diminishing mountain snowpacks and court orders to protect endangered fish have contributed to the state's water shortage. Officials with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the region's largest water wholesaler, have said they may cut deliveries to local water agencies this spring.
Among the new restrictions:
No hosing down driveways, sidewalks and other surfaces except for health or sanitary reasons.
Repair leaky faucets, toilets and pipes.
Water lawns and other landscaping between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Use only decorative fountains that recirculate water.
Do not allow water to run while washing vehicles.
Record said he was uncomfortable imposing fines, but he added: "There has to be some sort of penalty to get people's attention."
Staff writer Douglas Quan contributed to this report. #
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_water05.3ab7748.html
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