Customers of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) got a big surprise in the mail last week: a letter stating the one-day-per-week watering restriction would be lifted.
The lifting of the ban takes effect immediately. That means LVMWD customers in Malibu, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Westlake and surrounding areas can water lawns any day of the week they choose, ending the three-month emergency measure the water supplier mandated that restricted irrigation to either Mondays or Tuesdays.
But don’t turn on your sprinklers just yet. According to experts, California is still in a severe drought. While the new policy by LVMWD gives customers more flexibility in when to water, every household has a water budget that will be clearly posted on bills due in March or April. If a customer goes over his or her allotted water budget, he or she will pay as much as five dollars per billing unit.
Rates for LVMWD customers increased as of Jan. 1, so bills may be higher, even if water usage is unchanged.
Indoor water usage is currently budgeted at 55 gallons per person per day. Outdoor usage is based on the amount of irrigated area per household, including swimming pools. Allowances are made in warmer weather when no rain is expected.
It is the rain in Northern California that, according to Jeff Reinhardt, a spokesperson for LVMWD, is the “benchmark” for ending the drought.
Reinhardt emphasized the new rate structure and lifting of irrigation restrictions does not eliminate the need to conserve water, but says it lets the customer “take a role in managing your water budget.”
Staying within or below budget could take some extra effort.
“The old days of having a timer are over,” Reinhardt explained. He suggested running sprinklers manually once, and taking a meter reading before and after to find out exactly how many units were spent. Since some lawns and gardens are dormant in winter months, Reinhardt encouraged customers “to be mindful to stay on budget and conserve.”
The notices were sent out now because at this time of year outdoor usage should be at its lowest and, according to Reinhardt, “this will allow customers to transition” to the new billing system.
That system consists of four tiers: an indoor and outdoor efficient rate for usage within the water budget, and then an inefficient rate for those exceeding the budget by 101 to 150 percent. An excessive rate will be charged for a water budget over 150 percent.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, which supplies most of Malibu’s water through District 29, also had what a spokesman called a “pass through” rate increase this year due to rising prices from its supplier. Kerjon Lee, the L.A. County Public Works public affairs manager, told The Malibu Times that Southern California is dependent on imported water, with roughly two-thirds of our supply coming from Northern California and Colorado.
Lee explained that the small amount of rain that has fallen here in Malibu has not put an end to drought concerns. In fact, Lee said “even a significant El Niño winter won’t pull us out of the drought,” adding it would take “two El El Niños, back-to-back, to just make up our water loss.”
Irrigation restrictions remain in place for customers in District 29.
With higher rates this year and a limited supply of water, LVMWD reminds customers to not water lawns during rain or in the 48-hour period following rainfall, monitor irrigation system for leaks and misaligned heads, and switch to drought tolerant turf. Conserving wherever possible will help keep bills lower.
Experts anticipate water restrictions to remain in place at least through October 2016, according to Dave Rydman, District 29 water resource manager.