Council OKs 20% Cut in Water Use for Oxnard : Drought: The plan calls for a 50% reduction in farm irrigation. It allows exemptions for business and industry.

The Oxnard City Council on Tuesday tentatively approved a water conservation plan aimed at cutting back the city’s overall consumption by 20% while allowing several exemptions for businesses and industries.

The conservation plan also calls for a 50% reduction in agricultural irrigation, imposes severe restrictions on lawn watering and creates a city office to advise customers how to save water.

The council voted 4 to 0 to have staff write an emergency ordinance by March 5. Councilman Manuel Lopez left the meeting early and did not vote.

If approved, the ordinance would become effective April 1. Penalties for excessive water use would be assessed starting May 1.

Under the rationing plan, residents would receive monthly allocations according to family size and type of housing. Single-family houses with fewer than four residents would be allowed 250 gallons a day; houses with more than 10 occupants would be allowed 700 gallons a day.

For apartments, condominiums and mobile homes, the allocations would be smaller, varying from 174 gallons for studio and one-bedroom apartments to 475 gallons a day for units with five or more bedrooms.

Business and industrial users would have to cut water consumption 20% from the previous year and farmers would have to reduce consumption by 50%.

Excessive water users would be penalized 50 cents to $4 for every 748 gallons, or 100 cubic feet of water above their allotment, with the stiffer fines going to the worst violators.

Businesses and industrial firms could seek exemptions from the quotas if they need more water for new construction or increasing industrial production.

They would also receive a waiver if they already meet industry standards for low water use or if the required reductions in water use would take away jobs.

Unlike neighboring Ventura, which imposed a building moratorium for the duration of its water emergency, the Oxnard plan includes no such provision.

“The city will continue to aggressively pursue gaining additional allotments of water for all new connections that have been added since July 1, 1990,” said Julie Fernandez, a management analyst in the city’s Public Works Department.

Other exemptions would be provided for water use due to illness or to maintain health; the first filling of new swimming pools; changes in vacancies in multifamily complexes, and as needed to prevent hazards.

The total conservation plan is expected to cost the city about $930,000 this year, including a $300,000 toilet and shower head rebate program, City Manager Vern Hazen said. Seven positions would be added to handle the program, and an estimated $120,000 would be recovered in fines, Hazen said.

The conservation program was prompted by a decision by the Calleguas Water District, the city’s imported-water supplier, to require that its customers cut water use by 20%. Two-thirds of Oxnard’s water supply comes from the State Water Project, which has seen its reservoirs drop during five years of drought.

Hazen cautioned the council that as the drought continues, Calleguas probably will require further conservation efforts from its customers as early as next month.