Water Savings Dip In October
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Water use in Los Angeles was down by 14.9 percent in October, compared to the same month two years ago, but short of the 16 percent conservation mandate imposed on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power by the state, according to figures released Tuesday.
However, LADWP customers have reduced their water use by a cumulative 18.2 percent since June, when statewide conservation mandates took effect, according to the state Water Resources Control Board.
Statewide, residents cut their use by 22 percent in October compared to the same month in 2013, short of Gov. Jerry Brown's 25 percent mandate. But overall water use is down 27.1 percent since the conservation mandate took effect in June.
"We anticipated a dip in the conservation rate for October, but it is not because people are losing interest -- they actually did quite well considering how unusually hot it was in October," said Felicia Marcus, chair of the state Water Resources Control Board. "It's harder to keep the percentages up in the fall and winter when little outdoor watering takes place. That's why the savings over the summer were so important.
"Now we need to keep finding ways to save water. While El Niño storms may bring significant rain this winter, the depth of our drought and the uncertainty of the amount, type and location of precipitation means we have to continue conserving every way we can. In other words, unless we get a ton of snow in the Sierras that lasts through April, every drop saved today is one we'll be glad we have tomorrow."
In September, state officials for the first time fined four water suppliers for failing to meet their individual conservation targets. Beverly Hills, Indio, Redlands and the Coachella Valley Water District were each fined $61,000. Continued violations could lead to a cease-and-desist order with potential fines of $10,000 a day.
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