The Los Angeles City Council called for changes to the city’s water rationing program on Tuesday that would allow residents to water their lawns and gardens three-days-a-week, with people at odd and even numbered addresses permitted to water on different days.

The Los Angeles City Council has proposed a plan that would allow watering three-days-a-week. (photo by Amy Lyons)

The council rejected a proposal by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) that would have changed existing water rationing regulations to only two-days-a-week on different days for odd and even numbered addresses. The council’s proposal came in response to a study that determined that the  current water rationing program led to a series of water main ruptures throughout the city beginning last summer. The three-day-a-week watering plan was sent back to the DWP Board for consideration, which could occur as early as its next meeting on July 20.

Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith, 12th District, proposed the three-days-a-week program as a way to enable residents to keep their lawns green during the hot summer months, while placing less stress on the water infrastructure. It will be determined in the coming weeks whether residents at odd or even numbered addresses would be allowed to water on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule, or the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday schedule. Watering would still be restricted to before 9:00am or after 4:00pm, which follows current regulations.

“The twice-a-week restrictions are turning people’s lawns brown, which hurts the quality of life in our neighborhoods and degrades home values,” Smith said. “For more than a decade we have had a policy of greening, not browning L.A.”

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, 13th District, seconded Smith’s proposal, and said it is the most sensible solution for both conserving water and reducing pressure on the underground pipes. Under the city council’s proposal, watering would be limited to eight minutes on each of the three watering days, compared to 15 minutes per watering day currently in place. The six-minute reduction in watering times is expected to save more water.

“Your grass can die if there is a gap between the two days a week you are currently allowed to water, so we want to spread it out over three days but limit it to a total of 24 minutes,” Garcetti said. “It will keep your grass growing and your plants growing, while still conserving water.”

Other members of the council representing the local area also supported the three-day-week plan, including City Councilmembers Tom LaBonge, 4th District, and Paul Koretz, 5th District. LaBonge said he hopes people understand the importance of saving water and will continue to follow rationing measures.

“We must conserve water, but I understand that people want to preserve the landscaping at their homes,” LaBonge said. “In any system, we must ensure that we allow people to water their lawns, but that it also saves as much water as possible. The three-days-a-week schedule is more equitable. Over the course of a week when there are hotter temperatures, it will be more beneficial.”

Koretz represents a district where many of the high profile water main breaks occurred last year, including one in Studio City that caused a major sinkhole. He also said the three-days-a-week plan is a good compromise.

“It will protect the lawns in the city of Los Angeles, and by watering three-days-a-week, we will be less likely to see the pressure changes that contributed to the water main breaks,” Koretz added. “I think we are moving further in the right direction.”

The city council convened an independent panel that included experts from the University of Southern California, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech late last summer after the water main breaks began occurring more frequently. Although the panel determined that the water main breaks were likely due to fluctuations in pressure caused by the two-day-a-week water rationing program, the DWP conducted its own investigation that determined the pipe ruptures were caused by changes in pressure that resulted from some large regional pipes being shut down for repairs. The DWP Board recommended a change in watering days, however, essentially admitting that the fluctuations in pressure needed to be addressed.

Stephanie Interiano, a DWP spokesperson, said that most Los Angeles residents are adhering to the current water rationing regulations, and that changes to the system may result in even more water saving. She added, however, that the DWP’s water conservation team would continue to look for residents who are not following the rules. The team has 12 to 15 inspectors who respond to reports of excessive watering, and patrol the city looking for people who are watering too frequently. Approximately 7,000 warnings have been issued since the water rationing program went into effect last June, and approximately 200 citations have been issued. Warning are always issued on the first offense, followed by a citation, with a $100 fine that is added to the offender’s water bill. Subsequent citations can result in fines of up to $300, with a fifth violation resulting in a water flow restriction device being installed at the violator’s property.

Anyone who has information about violations of the city’s water rationing ordinance is asked to contact the DWP at (800)DIALDWP, or visit www.ladwp.com.