Only One Day A Week Outdoor Watering for 6 Million Southern Californians?
Metropolitan Water District imposes new restrictions
Heads up CLCA members who service clients in Los Angeles, Ventura or San Bernardino counties: New water-use restrictions are coming that will most likely limit outdoor watering to one day a week for 6 million Southern Californians.

Due to the drought and resulting water delivery cutbacks from California’s State Water Project, the Metropolitan Water District on April 26 imposed new restrictions on suppliers in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties. READ>

Water suppliers must either:

  • Limit landscape watering to one day per week, or
  • Reduce total water use by their customers below a certain target

The goal is to ease the burden on the drought-stricken state aqueduct. As Southern California’s regional water importer and wholesaler, MWD will not directly impose the restrictions on consumers, but rather require impacted member agencies to enforce the watering limits.

The six impacted water suppliers are:

Los Angeles County
  • Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
  • Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
  • Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
  • Three Valleys Municipal Water District

San Bernardino County
  • Inland Empire Utilities Agency

Ventura County
  • Calleguas Municipal Water District
If enough water isn’t conserved in the coming months, or if supply conditions worsen, all outdoor watering could be banned in these communities as early as September.
Cities, municipalities and water agencies served by the impacted suppliers are in the process of choosing which path they will follow: Meeting the water reduction target or limiting landscape watering to one day per week. Their choice, along with their plan for enforcement, must be in place by June 1.

Water suppliers who do not meet water reduction targets will be subject to fines.

CLCA strongly encourages green industry professionals to continue to monitor the situation and educate clients about:

  • The impact of the drought on their landscapes
  • The possibility of further watering restrictions
  • How best to reduce water usage
Developing Story:
CLCA will continue to monitor developments and keep you updated.