Lakewood to Consider Emergency Law on Water-Use Penalties, Fines on Waste

Those who use more than the community average of 330 gallons of water a day will find themselves paying higher prices for it if a proposed emergency ordinance is adopted by the City Council at its 7:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday night.

The proposed drought-fighting measure also proposes fines of $25 to $75 for people caught washing down sidewalks or driveways, letting hoses run while washing a car, allowing leaking plumbing to go unrepaired or using any decorative fountain that does not have recirculating water in it.

Reclaimed water--which is chemically treated waste water safe enough for landscape watering--would be mandatory for many commercial water users, including schools and churches, if the City Council passes the ordinance.