Los Angeles doubles fines for residents who waste water
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signs an ordinance that addresses repeated violations of the city's 'drought buster' rules and puts limits on residential outdoor watering.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed an ordinance today that doubles fines for residents who repeatedly violate the city's "drought buster" rules, including a reworked ban on watering lawns between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The measure will bar restaurants from serving water to customers unless it is specifically requested. And it will quadruple fines for large customers of the Department of Water and Power, mainly businesses, that break the city's water-waster law.
"L.A.'s future depends on our citizens to adopt an ethic of conservation," said Villaraigosa, standing at a news conference outside California Pizza Kitchen in downtown Los Angeles.
The mayor's anti-drought initiative comes as he tries to keep his top appointee at the utility, DWP Commission President Nick Patsaouras, from quitting his post.
Patsaouras, perhaps the utility's most aggressive watchdog on spending issues, could not immediately be reached for comment. But Villaraigosa said his appointee had repeatedly talked about leaving the DWP -- and the fact that he is "overworked."
Patsaouras, who also serves on a panel overseeing construction of the new $454-million police headquarters, recently submitted his resignation on "a note," Villaraigosa said.
"I don't think it was a letter. I think he submitted an e-mail of some sort," the mayor said. "He's talked to me about resigning more than a few times. Each time, I get him to realize that we need him." Villaraigosa discussed his appointee as he stood near two of the city's 16 "drought busters," inspectors who will issue fines to those caught violating the new rules two or more times. The team will look for various violations, such as washing cars with a hose that lacks a shut-off device.
Under the rules, DWP customers will be prohibited from using a hose to wash down their sidewalks and driveways, unless there is a public safety issue or a pressure washer involved. The law also bars residents from watering their lawns when it rains.Anyone who sees a water-waster violation may call 1-(800)-DIAL-DWP. The hotline has received 2,400 complaints since last summer, DWP spokesman Joe Ramallo said.
david.zahniser@latimes.com
