SAN CLEMENTE : Council to Vote on Water Conservation
A water conservation law that would penalize water wasters will be voted on by the City Council on Wednesday.
The proposed ordinance would add a surcharge to the water bills of business owners and residents who exceed allotments set by the city.
Households would pay 50% more for any water used above the 650-gallon daily allotment if the ordinance passes. Some council members expressed doubts that the law would be fair to large families.
Excessive irrigation of landscaping around housing tracts would also be hit with a 50% surcharge.
The law is part of a conservation push that was sparked last summer when San Clemente businesses and residents began using more water than the single pipeline supplying the city could provide.
Through last-minute belt tightening from local industry, the city survived the water crisis, but the City Council began taking steps to make sure the situation wouldn’t recur this summer.
Since January, the council has placed a moratorium on new construction in San Clemente and passed an ordinance that will allow city staff to shut off service to water wasters.
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