SAN CLEMENTE : Proposed Water Law to Be Considered

A proposed water-conservation law that city officials call one of the toughest in Southern California will be considered tonight by the City Council.

Under the proposed ordinance, industrial water wasters could be disconnected from the water supply, while businesses and residents who use too much water would be charged penalties.

City water officials also are seeking to use $52,660 from the water fund to pay for extra manpower and to monitor water meters to determine where water is wasted and initiate a citywide conservation campaign.

The proposed ordinance comes as a result of a near-crisis last summer, when demand for water exceeded the capacity of the supplier, Tri-Cities Municipal Water District.

With water levels in the reservoir serving San Clemente dipping from its 45-million-gallon capacity to about 17 million gallons, the City Council considered water rationing before negotiating with local industry to reduce water consumption.

Under the proposed law, if reservoir levels were to sink to 17 million gallons, major water users that exceed city-imposed allotments would receive a warning, said Greg Morehead, city utilities manager.

“Next time, if they’re still using too much, we would shut them off,” Morehead said.

The city also would increase the water rate by 50% for those who use more water than city standards allow. For example, if a resident were allowed 650 gallons daily and used 800 gallons, his or her bill would rise from $79.36 to $101.68, according to city figures.

A landscaper, irrigating 50 acres and permitted one inch of water per square foot weekly, who used 1.5 inches, would see an increase from $28,933 to $40,986.