CALIFORNIA WATER WASTERS COULD BE FINED $500 A DAY BY DON THOMPSON ASSOCIATED PRESS US VIDEO BUY AP PHOTO REPRINTS SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- In one of the most drastic responses yet to Californias drought, state regulators on Tuesday will consider fines up to $500 a day for people who waste water on landscaping, fountains, washing vehicles and other outdoor uses. The rules would prohibit the watering of landscaping to the point that runoff spills onto sidewalks or streets. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces would be banned along with washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle. Violations would be infractions punishable by the fines, although most cities are likely to have a sliding scale that starts with a warning and increases for repeat violations. The State Water Resources Control Board said it received about 100 written comments after it proposed the emergency regulations last week. So far, people have been pretty supportive, board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said. I think people recognize that were taking a moderate approach and were sending a message as much as anything. The board estimates that the proposed restrictions could save enough water statewide to supply more than 3.5 million people for a year. Thats enough to meet the needs of nearly nine of every 10 Los Angeles residents. The California Department of Water Resources estimates that cities and suburbs use about a fifth of the states water, about half going outdoors. Agriculture is by far the greatest water user, accounting for 75 percent of the states consumption. San Francisco officials worry about the prohibition on washing streets and sidewalks. Public Works Department spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said that could interfere with the frequent cleaning of alleys to wash away human waste where there are high concentrations of homeless people.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:40:55 +0000
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