By Andrew Georgy and Athena Xing
Editor’s note: This article was created in partnership with LADWP.
As California still experiences drought conditions, water conservation efforts are essential to support long-term recovery. To help prevent residential water loss, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power provides water conservation programs for LADWP customers to reduce water usage and, in the process, cut down on their water bills.
“Customers are trying to find many ways to save water because there are a lot of issues when it comes to watering and water loss in Los Angeles,” said Pablos Montes, LADWP Utility Services Specialist, Water Conservation Group.
The Residential SoCal Water $mart Water Rebate Program and the Free Water Conservation Items program are two projects that provide LADWP customers with technologies that help conserve water. The SoCal Water $mart Water Rebate Program focuses on rebates for both indoor and outdoor water conservation devices such as up to $200 for a weather based irrigation controller and up to $500 for a High Efficiency Clothes Washer. The Free Water Conservation items include everyday objects such as showerheads, bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, and toilet leak detection dye tablets.
LADWP customers can look at different options for rebates at: ladwp.com/residential-services/programs-and-rebates-residential.
LADWP also enforces a water conservation ordinance that allots customers certain watering days based on the last number of the street address, as well as specific hours during which watering is permitted. Customers who fail to comply after a first written warning can incur fines that range from $100 to water flow restrictions based on repeated violations. LADWP customers can find more information at ladwp.com/waterwaste.
Watering restrictions are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., during the hottest parts of the day, according to Desiree Padilla, LADWP Utility Services Specialist, Water Conservation Response Unit.
(Noah Addis/LADWP)
“Right now we’re in Phase 2 of water conservation, which allows customers to water up to three days a week,” Padilla said. “It’s best to avoid watering in the extreme heat if possible, plus, it’s better for your soil.”
Under the City of Los Angeles Emergency Water Conservation Plan ordinance, water conservation phases are ordered by the Mayor, with concurrence from the City Council, based on monthly supply-and-demand evaluations and recommendations provided by LADWP.
“We rely on snowpack to fill our streams and rivers from the Eastern Sierra mountains and the Colorado River. It depends on where we are with climate change; our summers are getting longer and winters getting shorter,” Padilla said.
If residents have a concern about the reason behind high water consumption, LADWP can provide information to address issues about their properties.
“We often go to customers’ houses, [usually] they have a concern about why their water consumption is high,” Padilla said. “Some memorable experiences have been trying to help address some issues customers have on their properties. They often don’t know who to call or who to trust.”
By visiting houses, educating residents through their online and digital media and providing water conservation technologies, LADWP works to make sure not a single drop goes to waste.
