Why it matters:
Because contrary to local perception, Los Angeles is a desert, not a water park.
Recap:
According to an announcement by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power the new rates and restrictions will begin today, June 2. Citing a third consecutive year of drought conditions, the Los Angeles DWP (LA’s municipal public water utility) has created a new pricing plan and mandatory restrictions.
Traditionally, single-family homes are allotted a certain volume of water at “Tier 1″ pricing. The allotment is determined by”lot size, temperature zone, time of year and the number of persons in the household.” Well folks, this year that allotment is being cut by 15%. Any customer who exceeds their allotment will be paying for the difference at the Tier 2 price (roughly double Tier 1 pricing normally reserved for multi-family and commercial customers).
Additionally, the utility is instituting restrictions on water use, most-notably prohibiting customers from hosing down hard-scaped surfaces (driveways, sidewalks, etc.) while landscape irrigation is allowed only on Mondays and Thursdays (excluding the hours between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.). For a full run-down, check out the DWP website (link above).
Commentary:
The truth of the matter is, if there’s a gorgeous river near your city, and you live within 500 miles-or-so of Southern California, we’ve probably been taking your water. Well, paying for it technically, but still.
Unfortunately, current demands for fresh water far outweigh mother nature’s abilities to replenish it…and that’s in a good year. The entire Southwest is in the grips of one of the worst, multi-year drought in history. And continued development and population growth into even more arid regions will only make matters worse.
The fact is, these new rates and restrictions should be law in all of California (and Nevada, and Arizona..). Voluntary water restrictions are certainly easier for people to swallow, but stopping climate change is going to take lifestyle changes. And that sometimes has to be mandated. Our current water crisis doesn’t get enough press. Whether you live in Southern California or not, you can start by logging on to BeWaterWise.com. The next steps are…
Creative Solutions:
- Take shorter showers
- Install low-flow shower heads
- Install low-flow toilets
- Consider xeriscaping
- Capture rainwater using a rain barrel or cistern
- Use your sprinklers wisely
- Recycle laundry water in your garden
- Put a Brick In Your Toilet
It’s about time. I’ve been calling the Water Wasters hotline all over LA to nail these jerks who water all day every day or use unrestricted hoses. Flagrant water wasting should have severe penalties. Humans die without water in 3 days. Let’s use some common sense!
Agree with you there, Scott.
I was just in LA/LB this past weekend. It was scorching, and lots of brown smog was doing it’s whole “laying on of hands” over the LA basin.
I didn’t taste any good tapwater while there (not surprised, but still shocked) and wondered why ANYone would live in such a s*hthole.
We obviously need mandatory water conservation on the scale of what an African child uses daily, and population control of just 2 babies permitted per human couple.
Otherwise, we’ll face massive starvation and dieouts from thirst soon. Maybe El Nino will tide us over for a while, let us water those LA lawns and fill some 90210 pools a little longer. (Too bad for the farmers in India.)