New Water Restrictions In Effect For Millions Across Southern California: Here’s What You Need To Know

More than 6 million Southern California residents will be affected by water restrictions which have taken effect on Wednesday, June 1. That means many of us will have to limit outdoor watering to one day a week. In L.A, it'll be two days a week.

If your address in Los Angeles ends in an odd number, you'll only be able to water outside on Mondays and Fridays. Watering days for addresses with even numbers are Thursday and Sunday. Watering is only permitted before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

You can still hand-water trees and gardens where you’re growing food.

Los Angeles’ RulesTo Curtail Drought

L.A. established a water conservation ordinance in 2016 in response to the previous significant drought, with six phases of limitations that can be implemented depending on the severity of the drought.

Angelenos will transition from Phase 2 to Phase 3 rules which started on June 1st.

The Basics For Los Angeles city Residents

• Odd-numbered addresses can only irrigate outside on Mondays and Fridays.
• Irrigation is required on Sunday and Thursday for addresses ending in an even number.
• Watering is only permitted before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
• You can only water for 8 minutes per watering day per station with a maximum of 16 minutes per week if you have spray head sprinklers or bubblers.
• You can water for no more than 15 minutes per cycle with water-conserving spray nozzles like standard rotors and multi-stream rotary heads, with up to two cycles per watering day per station for a total of 60 minutes per week if you have water-conserving spray nozzles like standard rotors and multi-stream rotary heads.

Recommendations To Conserve Water In Los Angeles

• To prevent evaporation, the LADWP suggests installing a pool cover.
• Don't wash your car at home; instead, take it to a commercial car wash, which will almost certainly utilize recycled water, according to the LADWP.

Exceptions For Southern California’s Rules

• These restrictions do not apply if you utilize drip irrigation to irrigate your plants. You can also use a hand-held hose to water food crops and vegetation, as long as the hose has a self-closing water shut-off system. Except between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., these exceptions are permitted every day.
• Customers who use recycled water for their landscape irrigation and operational purposes, such as city parks, golf courses, and industries that use treated wastewater for their landscape irrigation and operational needs, are likewise exempt.

Fines For Going Against The Los Angeles Rules

You could receive a fine of up to $600 for not following these rules starting June 1. LADWP is increasing the number of personnel in its water conservation patrol unit to patrol for water violations. LADWP says fines will be the last resort after education and written warnings. You can report wasteful water use at ladwp.com/waterwaste.

Existing Water Restrictions In Los Angeles That Are Still In Place

• There should be no water running off your property.
• There should be no water leaking from any pipe or fixture.
• After a measurable rain event, no watering is allowed for 48 hours.
• There will be no hosing off the driveway or sidewalk.
• Vehicles must not be washed using a hose that does not have a self-closing nozzle.

Why Water Restriction Is Happening In Los Angeles

Last month -- when the state water board approved rules that went into effect on Wednesday -- Governor Gavin Newsom said in part, “These conservation measures are increasingly important as we enter the summer months. I’m asking all Californians to step up because every single drop counts.”

Also, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, or MWD, declared a water shortage emergency. The MWD is the largest water supplier in the nation, serving 19 million people across southern California and the water shortage emergency applies to more than 80 cities that completely or heavily rely on the State Water Project, a system of pipelines that brings water to the Southland from Northern California.

The emergency declaration required six of MWD’s 26 member agencies, including the Los Angeles  Department of Water and Power, to develop additional rules to drastically cut customer water use this summer, which started June 1.

Here in Los Angeles, most of our water is piped from northern California and the Colorado River. Those resources have been severely depleted by drought made even worse by the climate crisis.

Also, the water restriction has spurred different occurrences like an increase in the usage of water in multifamily units. Because most residents use utilities without caution. But you don’t have to bother yourself as a property owner about utility wastage because it can be controlled with an internet-based system called RUBS.

The concept behind RUBS is the division of utility bills among residents based on specific criteria such as square footage, number of occupants, number of bathrooms, etc. The goal is to ensure residents pay for what they use. It’s a win-win for the housing providers (or property managers) and residents. 

And you can get this device at Livable.com. Also, we have curated an extensive eBook full of conservation tips to help you conserve and lower your utility costs during the summer.