San Marino Receives 'Poor' Water Conservation Rating

San Marino received a "Poor" ranking for its water conservation efforts in a scorecard released by the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Monday. The organization ranked 122 cities in the Los Angeles and Orange County area.

"Cities are ranked for measures in their ordinances that address appropriate water use, avoid water waste, improve building standards,
and prescribe water-efficient business practices," the Sierra Club said in a written statement. "The scorecard provides cities with a roadmap to update and expand existing water conservation measures in order to meet federal and state water efficiency standards and to work together to better manage use of the region’s limited water resources."

San Marino's scorecard shows the city has implemented nine out of 19 measures to receive a "Poor" grade. Notably, the city has not enacted any of the four residential water efficiency measures, which involve using water efficient toilets, faucets, showers, washing machines and dishwashers. Half of the city's commercial water efficiency measures were also not performed.

A rating of 10-14 is considered "Good", the category under which most of the 122 cities fell, with the amount of cities in the "Poor" category not far behind.

Five cities scored "Best", implementing 15 to 19 of the measures--Burbank, La Palma, La Verne, Los Angeles and Mission Viejo--while five cities scored "Worst", a grade for implementing 0 to 4 measures. Four of the "Worst" cities--Baldwin Park, La Puente, South El Monte and Palos Verdes Estates--scored a 0 while Rancho Palos Verdes scored a 1.

“Despite this year’s rains and record snowpack, long term water shortfalls are projected due to population increases and global climate change," said Charming Evelyn, chair of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Water Committee, in a written statement. "It is incumbent upon local cities to mandate long term, effective water conservation. Water conservation ordinances and sustainable water policies are among the most cost-effective means for cities to address declining water supplies.”

To see scorecards for all 122 cities and find out more from the Sierra Club about the rankings, click here.

The city has also been recently called out by the Sierra Club for its "blatant overcharging" for residential solar permit fees. The city stands by its fees despite being contacted by the Sierra Club to lower them and encourage use of solar power. 

Patch is following up on the water conservation report to get information and reaction from city officials as to why certain measures have not been enacted and if the city plans to change its water conservation efforts.