Agency Relaxes Restrictions on Water Use

By City News Service:

PERRIS, CA - With indications that water tables rose during winter rains, the Perris-based Eastern Municipal Water District's Board of Directors Wednesday decided to lift some restrictions on outdoor water use.

"The time was right for us to act," said EMWD Vice President David Slawson. "We sincerely appreciate our customers' continued efforts during this unprecedented drought, and we look forward to making further adjustments as conditions continue to improve."

SEE ALSO:

• Eastern Municipal Water District Misses State-Mandated Target

The board voted to lower the level of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan so that customers' water budgets are capped at 30 percent below normal allowances -- when there's no drought emergency -- instead of 70 percent, which has been in effect for a year.

Customers' water charges are tiered, increasing as usage rates rise.

EMWD officials said the State Water Resources Control Board is allowing agencies to apply for reductions in conservation targets, and the EMWD has already requested that its target be slashed from 28 percent to 20 percent each month.

Targets are established under criteria drawn up in response to Gov. Jerry Brown's drought emergency order of April 1, 2015. Agencies are required to lower overall monthly consumption by anywhere from 4 to 36 percent compared to the same time in 2013, depending on how they're ranked by the state.

The EMWD has argued that its 28 percent conservation target was too arbitrary and failed to take into account the utility's water reserve, management efficiency and other factors.

"EMWD is actively engaging with the Water Resources Control Board to encourage changes to the regulations that recognize local water supply conditions and preserve local decision-making authority," General Manager Paul Jones said. "Those changes, combined with water supply conditions and continued customer efforts to reduce potable water use, will determine EMWD's future actions to further reduce conservation requirements."

The Water Resources Control Board on Monday released figures showing that water agencies statewide had just missed a collective target of reducing water consumption 25 percent between June 2015 and February 2016.

Agencies remain under a conservation mandate until Oct. 31. Regulations in most jurisdictions throughout Riverside County include limiting outdoor watering to nighttime hours, three days per week and ensuring there's minimal or no run-off from outdoor irrigation. Violators are subject to fines.

(Image via Shutterstock)