Los Angeles Water Conservation Update

The city of Los Angeles has moved into Phase 3 of its emergency water conservation ordinance. This executive order requires all LADWP customers to reduce the number of outdoor watering days from three to two days per week. LADWP has created an informative FAQ that shows the seriousness of the situation and outlines the goals for our city. Follow this link for more information on the changes, including specific watering times and times and discounts.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

City of Los Angeles Phase 3 Water Conservation Order:
Two days a week watering

What is Phase 3 of Irrigation Restrictions?
Phase 3 limits outdoor watering with sprinklers to two days a week for eight minutes per. station pr. watering day. Watering for 15 minutes per. station, twice per watering day, is allowed when using water-saving nozzles: these are rotating nozzles that flow water more slowly and evenly to your landscape and use significantly less water per. minute than non-preservative nozzles. Watering days are Mondays and Fridays for street addresses with odd numbers;
Sunday and Thursday for straight addresses

• Highly recommend use of pool cover to reduce water loss from evaporation.
• Highly recommend washing vehicles at commercial car washes. Most commercial facilities are more efficient due to the recycling of washing water.
• Except for irrigation days, which are reduced from three days to two days a week (see above), all prohibited uses during phases 1 and 2 continue to apply, including no watering at all between kl. 9.00 and 16.00.

Visit LADWP.com/wateringdays to see the full regulation, including all phases and prohibited uses. Click on the tab for “Executive Order on Emergency Water Planning” to view and download the executive order.

Why does LADWP implement phase 3 (irrigation two days a week) of the Water Conservation Order?
California is experiencing severe drought conditions in our third dry year in a row, which has included the driest January, February and March ever. LADWP is among the member offices of the regional water wholesaler, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which relies on State Water Project (SWP) supplies from Northern California, which is the water source most affected by the current drought. MWD’s emergency statement on water shortages ordered drastic cuts in water consumption in areas, including Los Angeles, that depend on SWP supplies.

Is there no stored water that we can drain?
While water is stored regionally, in part due to LADWP customers’ heroic conservation efforts, there is a lack of regional infrastructure to move this water into parts of MWD’s service territory, including LADWP’s service areas and five other agencies. As a result, LADWP and other relevant agencies need to reduce their requirements for limited imported supplies from MWD. LADWP continues to strengthen its local water supply through rainwater collection, groundwater treatment and water recycling.

Do the phase 3 restrictions apply to both corporate and private customers?
Yes, all the same provisions apply to business customers, regardless of their size.

Why do properties with water-saving nozzles water twice a day and for 15 minutes per day? session?
Even if several minutes are allowed when watering with
water-saving nozzles, less water is used compared to
non-preservative nozzles. (See a list of preservative nozzles or visit www.socalwatersmart.com)

Does irrigation apply two days a week for drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation is subject to the same time allocation as water-saving nozzles: No more than 15 minutes per. cycle, up to twice per station on the two permitted irrigation days, based on address, a total of 60 minutes per. week, before 09:00 or after 16.00

Does irrigation apply two days a week for hand watering my landscape?
Hand watering is allowed every day before kl. 9.00 or after kl. 16.00, if the hose is equipped with a self-closing water shut-off device. There is no specific time limit for this type of irrigation, but customers are reminded that any use of water that results in excess or continuous water flow or runoff on adjacent sidewalks, driveways, streets, gutters or ditches is always prohibited.

Does irrigation apply two days a week to irrigating food sources, such as a communal garden?
Hand watering (with a self-closing nozzle) and drip watering of a food source is allowed every day before kl. 9.00 or after kl. 16.00. A food source refers to vegetation that is considered edible, such as fruits or vegetables. There is no specific time limit for these irrigation measures, but customers are reminded that any use of water that results in excess or continuous water flow or runoff on adjacent sidewalks, driveways, streets, gutters or ditches is always prohibited.

Can I water outside my two permitted irrigation days per week, as long as I stay within the total permitted number of minutes based on my irrigation system (eg 8 min / station x 2 days / week x 5 stations = 80 minutes in total over a week vs. 2 days)?

Although we understand the desire to do so, it would pose a problem for our enforcement, which is based on irrigation two days a week. We would like to remind our customers that hand watering with a hose that has a self-closing nozzle is allowed every day of the week before kl. 9 or after kl.

Are there fines or sanctions under Phase 3, and what are they?
The first message will be a written warning. Following the written warning, customers will be fined for Phase 3 violations, as shown below.

How will the restrictions be enforced?
LADWP’s Water Conservation Response Unit (Water CRU) representatives conduct field patrols in neighborhoods to comply with the regulation. They also respond to complaints about water spills reported to LADWP and provide information and training to Angelenos in violation of irrigation restrictions. WCRU will issue citations whose violations remain unresolved.

Learn more at LADWP.com/waterwaste.

Will I be able to watch the fines / water consumption in real time online?
You will be sent a quote with information on how to pay it.

Does the executive order also apply to customers who use recycled water?
No, commercial customers who use recycled water, including many city parks, golf courses and industries that use treated wastewater for their landscaping and operational needs, are exempt from the executive order. In fact, their use of recycled water actually outweighs the demand and makes more drinking water available to our customers.

Will going to two days a week watering still allow LADWP to comply with MWD restrictions?
The Phase 3 restrictions, as well as operational changes from LADWP, will help us meet the limited amount of supply available from MWD if everyone does their part. Given the long history of our customers’ conservation success in Los Angeles, we believe we can do it again. But it will require more than just fewer days of watering, so check out ladwp.com/save for discounts, efficient indoor units, tips and other programs to reduce your water consumption.

Why do we go to two days a week instead of one day a week, as MWD has stated?
MWD provided two options for compliance – limiting outdoor irrigation to one day a week or staying below a monthly water budget. While most other water authorities need to limit outdoor irrigation to one day a week to comply, we believe LA can operate below the monthly water budget set by MWD two days a week, thanks to the tireless efforts of our customers to preserve a lifestyle.

How much water does Los Angeles use per day, and have we set a new goal?
From April 2022, LA residents and businesses spent 112 gallons per gallon. person pr. day. Our goal is to reduce the amount to 105 per. person pr. day for all water consumption in the city. Please see our many discounts for water-saving devices and tips on how to reduce our water consumption at LADWP.com/save.

What happens if my plants die due to lack of watering?
Most plants should survive on two days a week watering.

Will I be able to fill my pool?
During Phase 3 you will be able to fill your pool, however It is strongly recommended that you use a pool cover to prevent evaporation when the pool is not in use. This will greatly reduce the evaporation from your pool. Also note that the next phase (Phase 4) requires covering pools for habitation, and Phase 5 prohibits filling them with water.

What programs are available to save water and reduce our costs at the same time?

• Water days during phase 3: www.LADWP.com/wateringdays
• Water saving discounts for private customers: www.LADWP.com/save
• Water saving discounts for commercial customers: www.LADWP.com/cwr
• Commercial Technical Assistance Program: www.LADWP.com/TAP
• California Friendly Landscaping / Peat Replacement Program: www.LADWP.com/landscaping
• Free training in effective landscapes: www.LADWP.com/landscapeclasses
• Leak detection: www.LADWP.com/fixtheleak

Visit LADWP.com/wateringdays for all discounts and water saving programs.

How long are these new measures expected to be in place?

The answer depends on how much and how quickly customers can reduce their water consumption, and whether the drought lasts. The more water we save, the longer these limited supplies last.

Will lack of vegetation on mountain slopes cause landslides?
Phase 3 allows watering on mountain slopes two days a week.

Will going to Phase 3 affect the city’s water supply to fight wildfires?
Water needed to ensure health and safety will always be provided.

Do the Phase 3 restrictions apply to customers in fire-threatening areas who are required to comply with the brush exemption and other required fire prevention measures?
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s requirements for residents in high-risk areas of fire are focused on preventing brush fires in connection with the removal of dried brushes. While vegetation must continue to be maintained in accordance with the brush distance requirements set by the City of Los Angeles, there is no requirement for brush freedom related to irrigation.

In addition to watering with sprinklers two days a week, hand watering with a self-closing nozzle is allowed every day of the week according to the executive order, except during the hours of 9.00 and 16.00.

Visit https://www.lafd.org/wildfire for information on wildlife prevention and requirements.

What if the hillside is recovering from a fire?
The provisions of the Executive Order do not apply to mountain slopes that have been restored after a fire and that have been replanted for erosion control. To qualify for this exemption, a client must obtain confirmation from the agency requiring erosion control measures. The duration of the exemption is limited to either one growth cycle, one year or the establishment of the vegetation, whichever is the shorter period.

What about property designated for equestrian sports?
Equestrian properties will be subject to the same Phase 3 restrictions as all customers. Any concerns regarding water for livestock and animal care should not be affected by the transition from phase 2 irrigation restrictions to phase 3 irrigation restrictions in the Conservation Order.