Wasting Water Could Cost You: Desert Water Agency Is Cracking Down

PALM SPRINGS, CA - Faced with the most severe drought in decades, the Desert Water Agency’s Board of Directors today adopted an ordinance that will make it easier to penalize property owners who aren’t in compliance with
watering restrictions.

Rather than sending several warning letters before issuing a fine, the agency now has the power to issue fines immediately when water wasting is observed, said DWA public information officer Ashley Hudgens.

“No more warnings means we can sufficiently address waste in the community,’’ Hudgens told City News Service.

Fines for residential violations start at $50, then increase to $200 and then $250 for every subsequent incident, she said. The fines can be issued daily, if needed. Business and multi-family properties in violation face fines of $100, $200 and $500, which also can be doled out daily.

“Everyone needs to make sacrifices to save water,’’ DWA board President Jim Cioffi said. “If you are wasting water or disregarding restrictions, you may now see a fine instead of a warning letter. We need our customers to know
that we are taking water waste very seriously.’’

The agency wasted no time moving forward with fines, issuing three within a few hours of the vote to approve the motion, Hudgens said.

Besides fining customers who are observed violating water restrictions, DWA’s new water waste enforcement action plan includes devoting more staff time to enforcement; deploying marked water efficiency enforcement vehicles; and reaching out to high water use customers.

“This charge from our board has given our team greater resources when looking for, documenting and citing water waste,’’ DWA General Manager Mark Krause said. “We hope that enhanced enforcement encourages customers to make the right choices.’’

Currently, DWA customers -- those within a 325-square-mile area that includes parts of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs and outlying county areas -- are in compliance with state water reduction mandates, saving
an average of 26 percent, when the governor’s requirement was 25 percent. However, board members today noted that the savings remains lower than DWA’s conservative target.

DWA has a Report Water Waste application for mobile devices. More details, including a list of watering restrictions currently in effect, are available at www.dwa.org/restrictions.

--City News Service