San Diego City Council Eases Water Restrictions

In a 6-1 vote Tuesday, the San Diego City Council decided to loosen up water restrictions now that the drought is over.

The city declared a water emergency two years ago, but the drought ended after a near-record snowpack in the eastern Sierra Nevada and an above-average rainy season.

The drought prompted restrictions on lawn watering (only three days a week for 10 minutes each), car washing (only at set times) and running fountains (those that did not recycle water were shut off). Water leaks also had to be fixed within 72 hours.

Even with loosened restrictions, tickets can still be given out for:

• Irrigation overflows that produce a flow in gutters.
• Washing cars without an automatic shutoff nozzle.
• Failing to fix a leak.
• Using a hose to wash down driveways and patios.
• Using decorative fountains that do not recirculate water.

A future ordinance will determine how much time someone has to fix a leak.

Councilwoman Marti Emerald, from District 7, said drawing back on the restrictions sends the wrong message to ratepayers.

"I don't want the public to think 'our drought is over, we can go back to our wasteful habits of the past,' " Emerald said.

Public Utilities Department officials say they would encourage conservation in their marketing.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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