News of the Arroyo
Title: | Water saving plan drowns |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2008-09-28 |
Summary: | September 28, 2008 - The Pasadena City Council failed to take action on water waste penalties this week instead directing Pasadena Water & Power to come back with a tougher program in six month. |
Author: | Dan Abendschein, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star-News |
Content: | Pasadena\'s plan to cut residential water use by imposing penalties on water wasters has fallen apart amid charges it didn\'t go far enough. The city is left essentially where it was in December when residents were asked to voluntarily cut back. Since then, water useage has risen 3 percent. Residents could have faced penalties for hosing off driveways, using fountains without a recycling device, and watering plants between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Restaurants would have been barred from serving water to customers unless they asked for it; landscape watering would have been limited to three times a week; and fines would have been imposed for allowing excess water to run onto streets or sidewalks. But Pasadena Water and Power Manager Phyllis Currie got a grilling when she presented the plan to the Pasadena City Council at its last meeting. Members charged that penalties alone will not work, are set up unequally, and even accused Currie of being ill-prepared to discuss the issue. \"I question that people will actually respond to this,\" said Councilman Sid Tyler. Councilman Victor Gordo called the plan \"ineffective and totally indefensible\" and said the method it uses to impose penalties is unfair. \"It penalizes a very narrow group, while leaving untouched larger water users. It targets people with 3-gallon fountains, while leaving alone people with 20,000-gallon swimming pools.\" Currie said the toughest penalties would fall on the biggest water wasters. \"The goal of the penalties is to let these repeat offenders know we are serious,\" she told the council. Two members of the Environmental Advisory Commission, which reviewed the plan, also criticized it in a letter to the council and called for a \"more complete plan\" that goes beyond voluntary and mandatory measures. They said the water department\'s method of identifying water wasters is \"inadequate\" and \"contributed to a false sense of security regarding water conservation.\" Commission Chairman Michael Hurley joined some council members in recommending the department use a \"budget-based\" billing system. Under that system, officials determine how much water each household uses, based on occupancy and the lot size of the property. The amount is billed at a certain rate, with progressively higher rates charged for exceeding the amount. In Irvine, which has a budget-based rate system, residents use 90 gallons per person a day, compared with about 190 gallons per person a day for Pasadena residents, according to city documents. Currie said the city lacks the data needed to institute a budget-based system - it would take two to three years to create such a database, she said in an interview. Among the information needed to be gathered are lot sizes, household occupancy and specifics on water usage. But Irvine Ranch Water District officials said it took them just six months to implement a budget-based system in 1991. Fiona Sanchez, water conservation manager, said officials looked at lot sizes and estimated the number of persons per household to set the base rates. Officials used an estimate of four persons per household and used a fixed lot size to bill customers. Those with larger households or lots - or who had some other special reason for large water consumption - can appeal for a rate adjustment. Exemptions have been made for residents who run small home businesses or use special medical equipment, among other adjustments, Sanchez said. \"We can accommodate pretty much any situation, as long as people have a good reason for extra water needs,\" she said. Though the council Monday did not direct Currie to return with a budget-based plan, members ordered her to return within six months with a more comprehensive water reduction plan. Whatever plan comes next must be able to meet a threatened 10 percent reduction in water to the city from the county Metropolitan Water District, which provides Pasadena with most of its water. Pasadena water officials had hoped voluntary measures would be enough, but since that campaign began in December, usage instead has increased by 3 percent, according to staff reports. dan.abendschein@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 4451 |
Url: |