Bradley’s Last Resort: Turn Off the Water

Faced with a critical water shortage caused by four years of drought, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley announced a mandatory water-rationing program today to get city residents to cut consumption by 10%.

The rationing, which must be approved by the City Council, is one of the most drastic steps taken so far in Southern California in response to a projected shortage of at least 10% in water supplies. Continued violators could have their water turned off.

Slightly over a month ago, the mayor called on residents to voluntarily cut back water consumption by 10%. But “the public has not gotten the message” about the critical shortage, Bradley said.

The mayor said he had decided to move forward with water rationing because waiting longer would mean the plan might not be implemented before the hot, dry summer.

“The process of gearing up for mandatory water conservation will not be instantaneous,” Bradley said. “We can no longer delay in informing the citizens of Los Angeles that because of the lengthy statewide drought, we have no choice but to require water-reducing actions by every residence, business and corporation.”

Bradley recommended several changes to the current Phase II provision for water rationing, which would increase enforcement and provide stiff penalties for violations.

These include increasing surcharge penalties for violation of conservation efforts. Presently $1 per billing unit (748 gallons of water) of excess use plus 15% of the water bill is assessed. But under the new program, the first violation for excess use would have a $3 surcharge per billing unit plus 15% of the water bill.

A second violation would cost $3 per billing unit, plus 25% of the bill and a third would cost $4 per unit plus 75% of the original bill.

Reductions would be based on a customer’s water use during 1986 so that consumers who have voluntarily cut back during the last few years of drought would not be penalized.

The DWP would also be allowed to assess penalties for chronic violators, such as installing water flow restricters and shutting off service. Presently, a City Council resolution is a required to cut off water.