ANAHEIM : Conservation Goals and Penalties Eased

The drought is still forcing city water customers to cut water use, but the city granted residents a break this week by easing conservation goals and penalties for noncompliance.

Residents now must reduce water use by 15% instead of 25%. And the surcharge for overuse has been cut in half, saving the average residential user about $2 a month.

The changes came after some Anaheim residents and business owners complained that the original plan was unfair. They protested at City Council meetings after the water surcharges were introduced in February.

Penalties were too severe, business owners argued, and the 25% conservation target was too high for larger water users. And residents said the rules did not take into account those who had been curtailing use before the conservation policy began.

For the average household that is using more water than it should, the surcharge will be reduced by about 50%, saving the household about $2 a month in penalties.

For the average industrial user who wastes water, the penalty will be reduced by about a third.

Ray Merchant, spokesman for the Public Utilities Department, said officials wanted to lower the target conservation rate and the surcharges after the Metropolitan Water District agreed to increase supplies to member cities. The county also agreed that the city could pump more water from the area’s vast underground water table.

Earlier this month, council members had asked the Public Utilities Board--which oversees the utility department--to review the drought policy.