From Sacramento to a neighborhood lawn off Sycamore Avenue, people are being asked to pitch in against the severe drought afflicting the state of California, and officials say there is plenty to do before more drastic restrictions would need to be implemented.

DWP officials said outdoor watering remains a major focus. No citations have been written, as a public education effort is still underway. (photo by Amy Lyons)

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) has operated under Los Angeles Water Conservation Plan Phase II restrictions since 2009, which were implemented during the back end of the last major drought. Those restrictions, DWP spokesperson Michelle Vargas said, have been greater than even the recent state mandates.

“In fact, we were helping out with the state in conversations leading up to (the restrictions passed in July),” she said. “Right now, our water conservation ordinance has been working.”

Phase II includes several stringent rules that have allowed DWP officials to trumpet progress. Most recently, DWP customers dropped their collective water use by 8.8 percent for August 2014 versus August 2013.

State Water Resources Control Board officials said this week that water conservation in Southern California picked up significantly in July and August, and DWP’s service area was a major factor in that reduction.

The biggest factor currently, Vargas said, is educating the public and making sure residents are even aware of the more stringent restrictions that have been in place for quite some time.

“DWP began to put out an enforcement team,” she said, noting the four-person Water Conservation Response Unit has been effective. “They respond to water waste reports, or they can respond when driving around and seeing a leaking water source. We focused on education. People are just not aware that there is an ordinance in place.”

Outdoor watering remains a focus, officials said. Residents are restricted from watering outside — only before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Residents with odd-numbered houses can water at those times on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Residents in even-numbered houses are similarly restricted to Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Watering is not permitted on Saturdays.

The ordinance requires that watering from non-conserving nozzles (spray-head sprinklers and bubblers) last no longer than 8 minutes per watering day, per watering station.

There are some exceptions for sports fields or large landscape areas, but owners generally must submit plans and receive permission. Daily fines, after a warning, can increase from $100 to $300 and include additional restrictions eventually — but that’s not the hope, Vargas said.

“Our water crews can go out and write water citations,” she said. “But we actually haven’t written any tickets year-to-date, because most people just didn’t know. After our first interaction, folks are able to remedy the situation before they become repeat offenders and are eligible for a ticket.”

Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, 4th District, said he’s kept a watchful eye on the situation locally.

“I am going to ask that the DWP make a special effort to send a team to Park La Brea specifically,” he said in a statement. “It is one of the jewels of our city and water is what brings special things to a lot of people. We have to conserve, and Park La Brea does conserve. That’s one of my objectives.”

Officials said about 40-60 percent of the service area’s drinking water supply is used outdoors. State water restrictions implemented in July included forbidding watering that causes runoff and the application of potable water to driveways and sidewalks.

“I would say they (LADWP) are definitely taking all the measures water suppliers are being asked to do as of now,” said Lisa Lien-Mager, spokesperson for the Association of California Water Agencies, of which LADWP is a member.

Looking down the road, officials said it is possible a Phase III could be implemented. That would include reducing watering days to once a week, with no car washing outside of a commercial facility and no filling of residential swimming pools and spas with potable water.

“You know, L.A.’s residents are taking this seriously, and we’re confident we can get through this year,” Vargas said. “If there is no rainfall in the next year, then we’re definitely going to have a different conversation.”

There are water conservation rules, advice and incentive plans available at www.ladwp.com by searching “water conservation.” That includes the Turf Buy Back program that gives money for each square foot of lawn replaced with approved drought—tolerant landscaping. The website also allows residents to report water wasting abuses.