Ventura Is Urged to Ease Water Rationing

A committee is urging the Ventura City Council to ease its strict water rationing program, allowing some households almost 100 gallons more per day.

According to the plan, released Friday by a committee of council members and city staff, the moratorium on non-residential water service connections would also be lifted--giving businesses a chance to expand.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the proposal at a study session Monday night, but will not take action on the recommendations until its March 30 session.

In March, 1990, the council voted to adopt restrictions designed to cut water consumption by 30%. On Friday, Councilman Tom Buford said city staff members recommended that Ventura could switch to 10% cutbacks.

“The rains started and gave us a push,” said Buford, who is chairman of the committee. “I’m glad we were able to do it.”

But he warned that Ventura’s long-term water supply is still in jeopardy. It is important, he said, that the city secure other water sources, such as a pipeline to the state water project at Castaic Lake or a desalination plant.

But for now, the city can afford to ease up and take advantage of the water flowing in the Ventura River, Buford said.

One member of Ventura’s business community hailed the committee’s recommendations.

“I think it’s a good move that they are taking the recent rains into consideration,” said Bob Alviani, a banker and Ventura Chamber of Commerce official.

Although he said he did not want to lift all conservation guidelines, “At least those businesses that need to expand have the opportunity instead of taking the other alternative--leaving the community.”

But not everyone was enthusiastic about the proposal.

Neil Moyer, president of the Ventura County Environmental Coalition, said the city should keep its stringent restrictions.

Currently, single-family residences have a base allotment of 294 gallons a day, while apartments and condominiums are allotted 196 gallons a day.

The proposal calls for allocations of 392 gallons a day for single-family residences, and 245 gallons a day for apartments and condominiums.

“I think they’re missing the point,” Moyer said. “It may be raining now, but our ground-water resources are still depleted. . . . This is the worst of head-in-the-mud leadership.”

According to the report, the rain that has fallen in the Ventura River watershed will help sustain the city for the next two to three years.

In 1991, the actual conservation achieved by water customers was 37.4%, more than expected.

If Ventura adopts the committee’s recommendations, it would become the second city in the county to soften water restrictions in the wake of recent rains. Thousand Oaks became the first this week when it eased its water cutbacks from 20% to 10%.

Under the Ventura plan, city water rates would remain the same, and households that exceed their allocations would still be fined.

Councilwoman Cathy Bean said she is pleased that the council may ease water restrictions.

“Since the water in the Ventura River is there, we might as well let people use it,” Bean said.

Councilman Gary Tuttle added: “If they have decided there is enough water, I would say great. But I would still urge people to conserve at the level they are used to.”