Long Beach : Water Officials Propose to Ease Rationing, Penalties

The Long Beach Water Department is proposing to increase its water rationing allocations and decrease penalties for excessive use.

While the California drought persists, department officials say local users have been doing such a good job of saving water that the mandatory rationing in effect since March can be eased somewhat.

“We anticipate our customers will continue their excellent water conservation habits,” said Steve Ehren, the department’s conservation manager.

Under the proposed changes, the monthly allocation for a single-family house would increase from 325 to 350 gallons a day and for apartments from 200 to 210 gallons a day. Commercial customers would be asked to reduce their water use by 15%, rather than 20%. Additionally, the penalties for exceeding the allocations would be reduced. Excessive use would be billed at twice the normal rate, rather than three times the normal rate.

Since the mandatory conservation plan went into effect last spring, water use has fallen by 20%, costing the water company about $3.4 million in lost revenue. All but about $400,000 of that has been made up for by the penalties, however.

Along with increasing the allocations, the department is also recommending creation of a water bank that would allow customers who use less than their allotments one month to “bank” those savings for use at another time.

The proposals will be discussed at a 3:15 p.m. public hearing today at the Water Department at 1800 E. Wardlow Road.