Costly Measures in W. Covina

Beginning in April, West Covina water customers will pay higher rates for less water.

The City Council voted 4 to 0 Monday in favor of the increases. Councilwoman Nancy Manners was absent.

Basic water rates will increase 50% across the board. Households that now use 15,000 gallons and pay an average of $29.08 every two months will pay $35.86 for 12,000 gallons during the same period. Over 12,000 gallons, the rate will be based on a sliding scale depending on usage from the same period last year.

The council also adopted a resolution formalizing the first phase of a three-phase conservation program. Phase 1 bans hosing sidewalks, driveways, and paved surfaces; washing vehicles with a free-flowing hose, and lawn watering except every other day between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.

The resolution gave the city’s water department the authority to impose Phase 2, with 15% mandatory cutbacks, without prior council approval. Under Phase 2, customers will pay a 25% surcharge for use over the cutback amount.

Also, home lawn and landscape watering would be allowed only every third day between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., except with reclaimed water. Watering times would be more liberal for parks, golf courses, nurseries and other public spaces.

Failure to comply would result in a written warning for the first violation, a 50% surcharge of the entire bill for the second violation, and a flow restrictor on the customer’s water meter for up to 48 hours for third and subsequent violations.

Phase 3 provides, among other things, for 20% mandatory cutbacks and lawn watering only with buckets.

* The La Puente City Council on Tuesday abandoned plans to impose a drought-related moratorium on new residential construction.

City Atty. Samuel Siegel said the city cannot enact the proposed moratorium. Only La Puente’s three water suppliers can declare an emergency water shortage, which would allow them to deny requests for new water connections, he said.

Councilman Charles H. Storing, who initiated the moratorium proposal Feb. 26, was surprised and angered by the city attorney’s report. “This makes us look ridiculous because we’re not doing anything” about the drought, he said.

City Manager Robert Gutierrez said he would meet with the water suppliers to press for an emergency declaration.

* Sierra Madre residents will have to begin mandatory water rationing April 1 if a plan introduced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting is approved later this month.

The phased plan initially calls for residents to reduce their water consumption by 10% compared with their 1989 use, said City Administrator James E. McRea.

The plan mandates that residents eventually curtail their water use by 36%, McRea said. First- and second-time violators will be subject to fines, while third-time violators may have water restrictors installed.

The first phase of the plan prohibits hosing of sidewalks, patios and driveways; restaurants from serving water unless requested; use of water for decorative fountains except with recycling systems; watering of lawns between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and wasteful water practices such as leaks.

A hearing on the plan is scheduled March 26.

Free-lance writers Steve Hirano and E. Page Bucy contributed to this story.