Los Angeles News

LOS ANGELES A Los Angeles City Council committee Tuesday unanimously approved a long-term water conservation plan that aims to further limit outdoor use.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Department of Water and Power General Manager David Nahai unveiled the $1 billion, 20-year conservation plan in May.

The city's current Emergency Water Conservation Plan already limits the watering of lawns between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from April 1 to Sept. 30. The conservation plan includes 14 recommendations that would further limit residents from using water outdoors.

Angelenos would be prohibited from watering their lawns between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and watering would be limited to 15 minutes a day.

Residents would also be banned from using a hose to wash down paved surfaces and would not be allowed to wash their cars with a hose that did not have a self-closing shut-off device.

Restaurants would not be allowed to serve water unless it was requested by customers. Hotels and motels would also have to give guests the option of re-using their towels and linens.

Residential customers who do not comply could be fined up to $300 and commercial customers could be fined up to $600.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought in June and directed the state Department of Water Resources to facilitate water transfers to areas suffering from emergency shortages and work with local water agencies to improve conservation efforts.

The water shortage is partially the result of a federal court ruling aimed at protecting the delta smelt. That effort significantly reduced the amount of water Southern California water agencies receive from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Department of Water Resources also found the state's snowpack water content was only 67 percent of its usual level and runoff was at 55 percent of normal.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Department of Water and Power General Manager David Nahai unveiled the $1 billion, 20-year conservation plan in May.The city's current Emergency Water Conservation Plan already limits the watering of lawns between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from April 1 to Sept. 30. The conservation plan includes 14 recommendations that would further limit residents from using water outdoors.Angelenos would be prohibited from watering their lawns between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and watering would be limited to 15 minutes a day.Residents would also be banned from using a hose to wash down paved surfaces and would not be allowed to wash their cars with a hose that did not have a self-closing shut-off device.Restaurants would not be allowed to serve water unless it was requested by customers. Hotels and motels would also have to give guests the option of re-using their towels and linens. Residential customers who do not comply could be fined up to $300 and commercial customers could be fined up to $600.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought in June and directed the state Department of Water Resources to facilitate water transfers to areas suffering from emergency shortages and work with local water agencies to improve conservation efforts.The water shortage is partially the result of a federal court ruling aimed at protecting the delta smelt. That effort significantly reduced the amount of water Southern California water agencies receive from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.The Department of Water Resources also found the state's snowpack water content was only 67 percent of its usual level and runoff was at 55 percent of normal.

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