Local News in Brief : ‘Self-Certifying’ on Water Savers OKd

A Los Angeles City Council committee Friday approved a plan that would enable condominium and small business owners to avoid costly inspections by letting them certify on their own that they have installed water-saving devices.

Although homeowners are already allowed to “self-certify” that they have complied with the city’s water-conservation law, the measure currently requires owners of condominiums and small businesses to hire an inspector to attest that they have installed the devices by Oct. 13.

But the City Council’s Building and Safety Committee decided that small businesses and condominium owners should also be allowed to “self-certify” that they have installed low-flow shower heads and devices to restrict the amount of water used by toilets.

The proposal, expected to go before the council later this month, would also do away with a requirement that homeowners selling their properties hire an inspector to certify that their showers and toilets were equipped with the conservation gadgets.