NRGideas

Seal Beach moves on water conservation

The Seal Beach City Council approved permanent water conservation measures Monday night that include restrictions on when residents can water their yards and require that local restaurants only serve water to customers who request it.

“There is so little water,” said Councilman Michael Levitt. “Something drastic has to be done.”

Seal Beach is the latest Orange County city to adopt citywide water conservation measures in response to Southern California’s drought. In April, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the region’s water wholesaler, reduced supplies to area agencies by 10 percent, and the Metropolitan Water District of Orange County has been working with the county’s cities to adopt conservation measures.

On Monday, the City council approved these six permanent conservation measures:

• No landscape irrigation between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Limit plant and lawn irrigation to no longer than 15 minutes.
• No water served to restaurant patrons unless they ask for it.
• Only use water fountains or decorative water displays that recirculate water.
• No installation of single pass cooling systems in connection with new water service.
• Install only re-circulating water systems in commercial car washes or commercial laundry systems.

The proposed conservation measures initially included a local ban on washing down hard or paved surfaces, such as patios, driveways and parking areas, except to eliminate a safety or sanitary hazard. Councilman Gary Miller, however, expressed concerns that the measure might be hardship for residents who need to remove dust or soot from their properties. “I know we’re in a crisis, but it seems we’ve went a little too far,” Miller said.

At the suggestion of resident Robert Goldberg, council members revised the local conservation measures Monday night to substitute the restaurant patron water cutback for a citywide ban on washing down hard surfaces. The city could add the pavement washing ban and additional water restrictions if the drought conditions are elevated to a higher “Phase 1″ alert, city officials said.

City Manager David Carmany said the city has been trying to encourage residents to adopt voluntary water use cutbacks by including reminders in monthly water bills.

By approving the local conservation measures Monday night, Seal Beach can remain eligible for future funding from the state and the Metropolitan Water District.

“Currently there is a call for a voluntary 10 percent reduction in water use and mandatory conservation could be implemented soon,” Vince Mastrosimone, Seal Beach’s Director of Public Works, wrote in a staff report. “Rain will help the region, but it will not solve the shortage.”