South State City Turns Down Tap

South state city turns down tapBy Matt Weiser
mweiser@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Feb. 02, 2009 | Page 16A
The city of Long Beach says it won't require additional customer cutbacks this year, because it successfully changed residents' water habits.

In 2007, Long Beach – which depends on imported water from the Delta and local groundwater – predicted long-term shortages. Rather than order residents to ration water, the city set out to make it socially unacceptable to waste water.

The city outlawed certain types of water waste, especially irresponsible landscape irrigation. It encouraged residents to report violators. It imposed tiered pricing to punish gluttons. And it used the Internet to spread its message.

Since then it has received 4,500 complaints about water waste. It followed up on every one with enforcement action.

The city achieved an 11 percent water savings in 2008, including 24 percent in December.

Now city officials say they are ready for a third drought year.

"I expect it to be a hardship for every other city in Southern California that has a significant reliance on imported water, because they haven't been as proactive," said water department General Manager Kevin Wattier.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call The Bee's Matt Weiser, (916) 321-1264.