Jane Galbraith, Public Affairs and Water Conservation Manager for the Department of Water and Power in L.A. related the following information at the June 10 STNC meeting.
L.A. is in the third year of a drought and everyone is being asked to reduce their water consumption by 15%. Water rates increased on June 1. Residents who use more than the amount allotted in Tier 1 will pay a higher rate. Part of the reason L.A. is in a shortage is due to the fact that the City does not recapture and treat rainwater. Instead, it purchases all its water from water authorities. The Metropolitan Water District supplies most of the water we use and they have reduced the amount they are making available to the City. Water is also purchased from the Bay Area and the Colorado River aqueduct. In measuring water use, they determined that 40% of all water used by L.A. city’s 4.1 million residents goes to landscaping. This figure is higher in the Valley- amounting to 70% of water consumption. As a result, they have introduced a new rebate program where they will pay homeowners to remove their lawns and replace with turf. Water restrictions limit the watering of lawns to two days a week now – Mondays and Thursdays but not between 9:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. Those who are caught watering on off times will receive citations and fines. Go to their website for water saving tips: www.ladwp.com.
A number of handouts and water conservation items were available at the meeting. Check with the STNC office for availability of any items.
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