LOS ANGELES’ MARCH TO WATER RATIONING

Faced with a fifth year of drought and dwindling water supplies, the City Council recently enacted the most stringent water rationing in Los Angeles history. Beginning March 1, the city’s 3.5 million resident s will be required to cut water use by 10%, and by another 5% on May 1, based on 1986 levels. Those who fail to comply face penalties.

1990

MARCH 21 The Metropolitan Water District warns Southland water agencies, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, to restrict water use.

MARCH 23 Mayor Tom Bradley asks the DWP to draw up a blueprint with tough penalties.

MARCH 31 Bradley vows to seek mandatory water rationing within 60 days if consumption is not voluntarily reduced by 10% during the next month.

APRIL 4 Los Angeles agrees to stop pumping ground water for a year from Owens Valley, one of the city’s three largest sources of water.

APRIL 17 A MWD committee recommends paying millions of dollars in rebates to water agencies that get customers to cut use by more than 5% between June and September.

APRIL 27 DWP announces programs that include a team of roving “drought busters” looking for water waste.

APRIL 30 At a news conference, Bradley challenges Los Angeles to voluntarily cut water use by 10% or face water rationing within 60 days.

MAY 3 Mayor unveils mandatory water rationing plan.

MAY 30 The Council’s Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee gives conditional approval to the mayor’s plan, while calling for a report on the effectiveness of ongoing voluntary conservation.

JUNE 28 Council tentatively approves mandatory rationing plan, but throws in amendments that will delay final vote for several weeks.

JULY 10 MWD reports that water use in many Southern California cities dropped from 8% to 16% under voluntary programs.

JULY 11 New figures showing a strong conservation effort by residents prompt some lawmakers to change their minds about backing the mayor’s proposed mandatory water rationing plan.

JULY 14 By a 10-2 vote, council votes down mandatory water cuts.

JULY 25 Council approves voluntary water rationing and includes the city’s first fines for flagrant water wasters.

AUG. 3 Los Angeles residents cut water use by only 9.8% in July and are warned that mandatory water rationing may be imposed.

SEPT. 5 Los Angeles residents cut water use by 13% in August and push back the possibility of rationing at least until October.

NOV. 2 DWP announces that its customers only cut back 5.2% for the month of October, but city officials will not impose mandatory rationing right away.

NOV. 21 The MWD unveils a plan to deal with ongoing drought, which involves cash incentives and disincentives for water agencies.

DEC. 12 MWD orders member agencies to start mandatory cuts, ranging from 5% for overall residential consumption to 20% for agriculture use.

1991

JAN. 4 The DWP seeks mandatory rationing on Feb. 1 because customers failed to curb usage by 10% for three consecutive months.

JAN. 10 MWD orders local water agencies to reduce their overall consumption by 17%.

JAN. 31 MWD says it will seek 31% cuts in water use.

FEB. 2 Bradley calls for rationing that would cut use 10% starting March 1 and 15% on May 1.

FEB. 5 DWP board approves Bradley proposal.

FEB. 8 DWP asks for a 6-cent increase in surcharge to recoup revenue expected to be lost through conservation.

FEB. 12 MWD declares water emergency and imposes a 31% cut in water delivered to 27 agencies from Ventura to San Diego.

FEB. 20 Los Angeles City Council imposes the toughest water rationing measure in the city’s history, beginning March 1.