Los Angeles Utility Votes to Ration Water

Feb. 19, 2009
Consumers will pay penalty for usage exceeding allowance

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), the nation’s biggest public utility, voted Feb. 17 to impose water rations for the first time in nearly 20 years, Reuters reported.

The publicly owned utility voted to charge consumers a penalty rate—nearly double normal fees—on any water they use that exceeds a reduced monthly allowance. More details will be formally voted on by the five-member board next month.

Unless the city council rejects the measure, the rations would take effect in May. Rejection is unlikely, given Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s call for rations as part of a water-shortage plan introduced last week.

The measure comes as California deals with its third consecutive dry year. Reserves are down across the state, and a court ruling has limited the amount of water taken from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect endangered fish.

As a result, state water managers have reduced the delta water they provide to irrigation districts and cities to 15% of usual allotments.

Source: Reuters, Greenwire

Sponsored Recommendations

Blower Package Integration

March 20, 2024
See how an integrated blower package can save you time, money, and energy, in a wastewater treatment system. With package integration, you have a completely integrated blower ...

Strut Comparison Chart

March 12, 2024
Conduit support systems are an integral part of construction infrastructure. Compare steel, aluminum and fiberglass strut support systems.

Energy Efficient System Design for WWTPs

Feb. 7, 2024
System splitting with adaptive control reduces electrical, maintenance, and initial investment costs.

Blower Isentropic Efficiency Explained

Feb. 7, 2024
Learn more about isentropic efficiency and specific performance as they relate to blowers.