L.A. Ends Water Rationing but Asks Users to Conserve : Drought: Decision was prompted by heavy winter rains and the loosening of supplies statewide. But wasteful consumers still face fines.

After 13 months of the toughest water conservation effort in the city’s history, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday rescinded its mandatory rationing program as heavier than expected winter rains boosted statewide water supplies.

Los Angeles was one of the first Southern California cities to adopt mandatory conservation in response to the lingering five-year drought. As of today , it becomes the first to end the program.

But the council, following the lead of Mayor Tom Bradley and the recommendation of the Department of Water and Power, is asking consumers to voluntarily curb their water use by 10% as the drought appears headed into its sixth consecutive year.

“We live in a desert and so people in this area should be in the habit of not wasting water,” Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores said.

Although wanting to reward city residents for their conservation in the past year, council members voiced some skepticism about how successful a voluntary program will be.

Council members asked the DWP to report monthly on the number of customers who do not meet the 10% conservation target. And they held out the possibility of reimposing financial penalties for excessive use.

Some council members complained that the DWP is maintaining a “drought” surcharge of about $2.70 on the average monthly bill. The surcharge, which raises about $18 million a year, was intended to help the DWP make up for sales reduced by conservation.

Councilmen Nate Holden, Joel Wachs and Ernani Bernardi filed a motion calling for the elimination of the surcharge.

“I understand the department has needs,” Wachs said. “But I also understand (that) people are being penalized for conserving.” The motion was sent to committee for study.

The City Council also voted to continue a ban on wasteful water practices.

Prohibited uses of water include watering hard surfaces such as sidewalks and walkways; lawn watering in the summer between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and in the winter between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; allowing excess water from sprinklers to flood gutters; using water in decorative fountains unless it has a recycling system; serving water to customers in eating establishments unless requested, and allowing leaks to go unattended.

Violators of the prohibited uses will face a warning for the first offense, a $50 fine for the second, $100 for the third and $150 for the fourth. If violations continue, the department could restrict the flow of water to a violator’s property.

The city began its mandatory conservation program in March, 1991, when customers were asked to cut use by 10% or face fines. In May, 1991, the conservation level was raised to 15%.

Consumers responded overwhelmingly to the call, and cut use by 25% to 30% of expected demand during the past year. Jim Wickser, DWP assistant general manager for water, said he expects the new voluntary program to exceed the recommendation and produce savings of about 15%.

Still, about 8% of customers failed to meet their conservation goals in the past year and were assessed about $20 million in fines, DWP officials said.

The Metropolitan Water District board voted Friday to roll back conservation goals for its 27 member agencies from a mandatory 17% to a voluntary 10%. Earlier this year, the MWD had imposed a 31% cut in supplies to its members, including the DWP.

The MWD was able to make more water available after the state Department of Water Resources announced two weeks ago that it will increase to 45% from 20% the amount of water it delivers to members of the State Water Project.

Statewide, precipitation is about 85% of normal, compared to 35% of normal at this time last year. Runoff from winter storms in the Sierra Nevada, the chief source of Southern California’s water, is at 40% of normal, compared to last year’s 15%.

The DWP expects to purchase about half of the water the city needs from the MWD. The city’s own supplies in the Owens Valley are now about 60% of normal.

Although more water will be available, consumers also will be paying more for it.

MWD directors two weeks ago approved a 21% rate increase that will cost average consumers about $1.25 a month, depending on how much water their local agency purchases from the MWD. In addition, the DWP’s “summer rates” go into effect today, boosting the cost of water by about 25%.