Camarillo Imposes Limits on Water Use

If you waste water in Camarillo, you break the law.

That’s the edict of an emergency City Council measure passed Wednesday that outlaws wasteful practices to combat the statewide drought and dwindling water supplies.

Activities prohibited under the ordinance, which becomes effective today, include lawn watering between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., except for new landscaping; washing down sidewalks or driveways, and watering anything from grass to agricultural fields in such a way that water pools up on hard surfaces or runs to waste.

In addition, water may be served in restaurants only on request and fountains must use recycled water.

“We asked for a 10% voluntary reduction in water use two years ago and again last year,” Mayor Charlotte Craven said. “Since water use, in fact, went up, even accounting for growth, we feel we need something a little stronger.”

City Manager William Little said the city also plans a new water billing system with tiered rates that increase with water consumption.

“The more you use, the more you pay for it,” Little said. Details are still being worked out, he said.

Residents in the city’s east end, who are served by Camrosa Water District, are not subject to the new ordinance, Little said. But Camrosa is considering similar restrictions, he said.

Camarillo is the second of the county’s 10 cities to enact a water conservation ordinance this year. Ventura implemented a water-rationing measure this month; it limits most single-family houses with up to four people to 294 gallons of water a day, about 75 gallons per person.

In contrast, the average household in Camarillo uses about 434 gallons of water per day, or about 135 gallons per person, based on the city’s average of 3.2 people per house, said John Elwell, Camarillo’s director of community services.

Apartment dwellers in Ventura are limited to 196 gallons per day, or about 65 gallons per person based on a three-person household. In Camarillo, the average apartment household uses about 208 gallons a day, or about 80 gallons per person, Elwell said.

Other cities, including Simi Valley, Oxnard and Thousand Oaks, have voluntary water conservation programs, their officials said. Moorpark plans to consider voluntary measures May 2.

The cities’ actions are in response to the statewide drought and requests from water suppliers to begin curtailing water use.

The Metropolitan Water District, which supplies half of Camarillo’s water needs through the Calleguas Municipal Water District, has asked its users to prepare for water cutbacks of 10% in the coming months.

The remainder of Camarillo’s water is pumped from the ground. But that source may soon be restricted as well. The county’s Groundwater Management Agency will decide Friday whether to adopt a measure to cut pumping by 25% over 20 years.

Camarillo’s new ordinance will be enforced by employees of the city’s water, police and code enforcement departments, Elwell said.

Residential penalties for wasting water will be relatively small, however--about half the previous bimonthly water bill or about $17.50 for most residents. Elwell said penalties will be higher for businesses.