L.A. Residents Heed Call of Water Conservation, say LADWP Officials

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers conserved more water  during the excessive heat of July and August of this year than they did during the same time in 2013, according to the LADWP.

LADWP customers, which total nearly 680,000, reduced water usage by 8.8 percent in  August and 4.4 percent in July compared to the same two month periods last year, department officials announced Friday.

“Seeing these savings in the middle of summer during a drought is telling of L.A. residents’ commitment to water conservation, and we are grateful to all who continue to do their part,” LADWP General Manager Marcie Edwards said in a news release.

In 2014, the weather was four degrees hotter than the long-term average for the city, and May alone was seven degrees above normal, according to the LADWP.

“Every drop of water we have been saving is valuable, especially until we see what relief this winter brings to the State’s dwindling water supplies,” said Martin Adams, senior assistant general manager at LADWP.

LADWP began enforcement of  wasteful water practices after the passage of the Water Conservation Ordinance in 2007, is now its second phase, restricting outdoor watering to three times a week among other regulations.

Led by the department’s Water Conservation Response Unit, which has received an increase of  staffing, LADWP has initiated 4,600 investigations into water waste so far this year.

LADWP  also launched a  public awareness campaign aimed at increasing water conservation, spending nearly $500,000 in  advertising via  newspapers,  movie theaters  and other outlets from January to July of this year, according to the news release.

But as California heads into another winter season,  LADWP officials say water enforcement efforts need  to continue.

LADWP authorities are  encouraging people to report water waste by e-mailing inspectors at waterwaste@ladwp.com, calling 1-800-dial-DWP or using LA’s phone app, MyLA311.

–REZA GOSTAR