MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION IS HERE
Shortage Year Water Rates Now In Effect
Outdoor Watering Restricted to Mondays and Thursdays Only
LOS ANGELES – All Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) water customers are subject to mandatory water conservation beginning today, as planned measures proposed by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and approved by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles City Council go into effect. The two central aspects of mandatory water conservation include a new water pricing structure and restrictions on watering with sprinklers.
The modified water pricing schedule, known as shortage year rates, effectively reduces all LADWP water customers’ water allocations by 15 percent and raises the rate for any water used over and beyond the allocation. Shortage year rates are designed to send a strong price signal to customers to conserve water or pay a higher price for excessive water use. Customers who conserve and stay within their reduced allocations will not be impacted financially whereas those who exceed their allocations will see their bills rise. Customers already conserving 15% will not be affected.
Watering with sprinklers will be restricted to outdoor watering Mondays and Thursdays only, in accordance with Phase 3 of the City’s Water Conservation Ordinance. Phase 3 provisions make water conservation mandatory in all LADWP customer sectors and violators are subject to citation in the form of a warning and subsequent fines. Additionally, hand watering using garden hoses fitted with shut-off nozzle devices is exempted but all forms of outdoor watering are prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. LADWP estimates up to 40% of all water consumed by single-family customers is used for outdoor purposes.
“Los Angeles, quite famously, has imported most of its water since the advent of the Los Angeles Aqueduct almost 100 years ago. Today, with both a natural drought statewide and a regulatory drought due to restrictions placed on the importation of water from the Delta, our water supplies are significantly reduced. We have no choice but to enact mandatory conservation,” said David Nahai, LADWP Chief Executive Officer and General Manager. “We all must do our part to cut back on our use of water – especially outdoors, where water can most easily be saved.”
To inform customers, the Department has updated its website, www.ladwp.com, and enhanced its automated phone service, available to customers who call 1-800 DIAL DWP, with the specifics of mandatory water conservation. Shortage year rates and sprinkler restrictions have been the focus of regular and ongoing radio, television and print media interviews. The Department has placed major advertisements in the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Daily News, and La Opinion as well as recurring ads in numerous regional and community newspapers, with more planned. Additionally, the coming weeks will see LADWP will run ads on local television and radio outlets to air throughout the high-demand season. The Department has also frequently sent messages via its Twitter account, registered as “LADWP,” and has sent letters to every customer informing them about shortage year rates and the new restrictions, among numerous other ongoing strategies to raise awareness.
Additionally, the LADWP Water Conservation Team is actively patrolling the city to help inform customers of water waste they observe in progress and learn about through tips from neighbors and concerned citizens who call 1-800-DIAL DWP or send e-mails to waterconservationteam@ladwp.com.
To help customers save water and money, LADWP offers numerous rebate programs and incentives for switching to water-efficient devices and tips for easy ways to reduce water use. This information, as well as comprehensive information on shortage year rates and the prohibited uses of water, is all available at www.ladwp.com or by calling 1-800-DIAL DWP.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation’s largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP services about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles.
