OXNARD : Hearing May Be Held on Water Rationing

The Oxnard City Council will decide Tuesday whether to schedule a public hearing on a proposal to force farmers to use 30% less water and residents to use 10% less.

The cuts in water use were ordered this month by the Metropolitan Water District, which serves the city’s water supplier, Calleguas Municipal Water District.

In September, the council approved a water conservation ordinance that bans water-wasting practices such as hosing off driveways and allows fines or termination of water service for repeat offenders.

Oxnard public works officials have asked the City Council to schedule a public hearing at City Hall for Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. to consider public comments on the new water rationing plan.

According to a city report, violators of the proposed reductions would be fined $394 for every acre-foot (or about 326,000 gallons) of water used over the allocation.

Although Oxnard has the lowest per-capita water use in Ventura County, city officials suggest the hearing to discuss additional ways to save water.

“It is recommended that the staff develop an approach for council consideration,” the report says. “This should be initiated right away with a presentation to be scheduled within the next month.”