Westminster OKs a 5-Year Plan to Conserve Water

The City Council has approved a water-management plan that suggests guidelines for water use over the next five years, city officials said.

The plan, adopted Tuesday, stresses conservation and suggests that the council require the use of low-flush toilets and landscaping that requires little water when approving permits for new buildings. The plan also calls for improved maintenance of water valves and meters, Water Supt. Reyes Alvidrez said.

Since 1985, state law has required agencies that have more than 3,000 water customers or provide more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually to design water-management plans and update them every five years. Alvidrez said the 15-page plan provides a better blueprint for water sources, demand and conservation than previous plans.

The plan will be sent to the state Department of Water Resources for final approval.