Mayor Urges Rationing Across the Southland : Water: Bradley unveils plan to mandate conservation. Other cities seem unlikely to follow L.A.’s lead.

Mayor Tom Bradley on Wednesday proposed mandatory water rationing throughout the city, saying the time has come for Los Angeles to set an example for all of Southern California in coping with a projected 10% shortage in water supplies this year.

“Fear among water agencies that conservation measures will somehow deny them their rightful share of water has paralyzed our region into inaction,” Bradley said. “We have a duty to act responsibly and to lead others by our example.”

But while Bradley is seeking to lead, water agencies across Southern California said they are unlikely to follow. “We simply don’t see such a drastic problem,” said Keith Coolidge, spokesman for the Municipal Water District of Orange County, echoing the response of many other agencies that are sticking with voluntary conservation programs.

Bradley asked the City Council for quick passage of his water conservation ordinance, which would assess heavy financial penalties on those who use more than their allotments. Bradley’s proposal would require consumers to cut their usage by 10% from 1986 consumption levels or face fines.

The mayor, who earlier asked consumers to voluntarily cut their use by 10%, said he is seeking rationing because “it is clear we must do more.”

“We must save as much water as possible in the peak summer months,” Bradley said.

Reaction from the City Council on Wednesday was generally favorable, with all but one of the 14 members contacted voicing some level of support for the rationing measure.

Bradley said he also will ask the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies 60% of the water for 300 communities from Mexico to Ventura, to require cities in its service area to adopt similar mandatory rationing plans. The MWD has projected a 10% to 12% shortage in water supplies this year.

“It would be unfortunate and unfair if cities that refuse to conserve benefited from Los Angeles’ decision to manage its resources responsibly,” Bradley wrote in a letter sent Wednesday to the city’s eight representatives on the 51-member MWD Board of Directors.

The initial response from the MWD and several of its member agencies--including San Diego, Long Beach, Burbank and Compton--was cool.

“I think it needs to be proven that we cannot reduce water use voluntarily, before we go to a mandatory system,” said Ronald Palmer, general manager of the Foothill Metropolitan Water District, which serves seven smaller water agencies in the San Gabriel Valley. “We don’t feel we should go to mandatory . . . we feel the people will respond” to calls for voluntary cuts in water use, he said.

“We also want to encourage uniformity” among the myriad water agencies in the region, said Richard Atwater, general manager of the Central Basin Water District, which represents 40 communities in coastal and southern Los Angeles County. “But we want to defer the individual decisions to each city.”

Carl Boronkay, general manager of the MWD, said Los Angeles representatives are welcome to make their argument for mandatory rationing to the full board, but he questioned how enthusiastic the response would be. “I would assume that many members would want to see how they are doing under newly commenced (voluntary) programs” before endorsing a mandatory rationing plan, Boronkay said.

“We take our lead from MWD,” said Dan Davis, general manager of the Long Beach Water Department. “So far, the feeling from Met is that there will be enough water to get us through the summer and the rest of the year. . . . We cannot enact a mandatory program without a proper announcement of a severe water shortage from the Met.”

Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, chair of the Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources committee, which oversees water matters, also questioned the need for rationing at this time.

“I need to find out what information the mayor has that led to this decision,” she said. “The DWP is who should tell us (if rationing is needed) and I don’t think we’ve got that information yet.”

Flores said her committee will begin hearings on Bradley’s proposal next week. The legislative process could take about a month to complete.

“We should make our decision on the facts and that is what my committee will do on Tuesday,” Flores said.

Jim Wickser, assistant general manager of the Department of Water and Power, said that based on current information on water supplies, consumption rates and conservation efforts, “There should be adequate water to get through this year.”

But he was quick to add: “We are also in the fourth year of a drought and have a great need to conserve. . . . Whether we do that through voluntary or mandatory (means) is a judgment call” for the mayor and the City Council.

Wickser would not say what his judgment call would be.

Despite Flores’ questions, Bradley’s proposal has broad support on the City Council.

“I think it’s appropriate that the city of Los Angeles assume the leadership in this area,” Councilman Marvin Braude said.

The Times was able to contact 14 of the council’s 15 members, and all but Flores said they believe the time has come to institute rationing.

But several members said the plan may have to be amended to include special provisions for low-income people and other hardship cases.

“I think there has to be an appeal process built into it. Some families are bigger than others,” Councilman Richard Alatorre said.

Braude predicted that the council will overwhelmingly approve rationing. “We live in a desert,” he said. “To take out a little insurance by doing some water conservation now is the best investment that a prudent society should make.”

Councilman Michael Woo said he believes that the public will accept rationing. “This is a sacrifice that I think everyone will want to make,” he said.

Councilman Hal Bernson said he wants to make sure that Los Angeles does not institute the plan “unilaterally” without the cooperation of other cities in the area. “This has to be a regional-type exercise.”

On Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council approved fines as part of its five-year, $2.9-million program to conserve water through mandatory installation of low-flow plumbing fixtures.

The law calls for residents and landlords to replace old toilets with new ones that use a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush, and shower heads that limit flow to three gallons or less per minute. After July 1, owners of single-family residences who have not complied will have $1 a month added to their water bills, and owners of multifamily buildings will be charged 65 cents per unit per month.

THE MAYOR’S RATIONING PROPOSAL

Goal: 10% water cut, compared to pre-drought usage in 1986.

Start date: As early as June, provided council approves the measure.

How rationing will work: Allotments will be listed on the first bill sent to customers after the program begins. If allotment is exceeded, customers can make up the difference the following month.

Penalties: First violation calls for a $3 surcharge on each billing unit (748 gallons) of excess water use, plus 15% of total water bill. A second violation costs $3 per excess billing unit, plus 25% of the bill. A third violation costs $4 per excess billing unit and 75% of the bill. Chronic water wasters could have service restricted or shut off.

Exemptions: Can be granted by DWP or a special mayoral panel. Exemptions should be sought only after customer exceeds allotment.

Reasons for exemptions: Conservation would result in unemployment; additional members have been added to a household; landscaped property has been added; employment or production has increased at a business facility; a new swimming pool needs to be filled.

Note: City water officials predict about 100,000 of 650,000 customers will seek exemptions.

Source: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

HOME WATER USE

Water officials say most people estimate their daily household water use at as little as 10 gallons. Few believe it to be more than 50 to 75 gallons a day. Officials say actual daily household water use is from 300 to 500 gallons a day. Below are average amounts of water used for common household activities.

Brushing teeth: 3 gallons a day

Shower: 40 gallons/10 minutes

Bath: 20 gallons

Toilet: 28 gallons a day per person

Washing clothes: 45 gallons a load

Dishwasher: 15 gallons a load

Landscape: 350 gallons per watering day

Hosing driveway: 150 gallons

Car washing: 150 gallons

Source: Metropolitan Water District