Summer Water Restrictions Eased, but Don't Have a 'Water Party'

This story was written by Craig Clough and Dan Abendschein

The Sierra Madre City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to amend the city's recently passed mandatory water conservation ordinance to make it easier for residents to make the required cuts in water usage the ordinance currently mandates.

The initial restrictions passed in May mandate that residents make a 20 percent usage cut or face fines, a response to a dry winter that resulted in a reduction of local water sources that Sierra Madre relies on.

The new amendment alters the usage cuts to factor in a summer target and a winter target, recognizing that water usage tends to be much higher during the dry months. 

City Manager Elaine Aguilar stressed that residents should still continue to conserve in the summer.

"We still really encourage people to do what they can during this period of time, seeing how important it is," Aguilar told the council before it voted on the amendment. "We don’t want people to feel, 'Well, I don’t have to worry about this until wintertime' and in the meantime have a water party."

Several residents voiced displeasure at the ordinance and how the restriction targets were calculated, which basically asks residents to reduse their use compared to 2012 figures. Several council members said the ordinance will require further examination, even after the amendment. 

"The ordinance in my view has been pretty well vetted. I think it will continually be a work in progress," said Mayor Pro Tem John Harabedian. "This isn't something that is going to go on the books and then will be shut and put on the shelf. We'll continue to look at this." 

At the same meeting, the council also voted to purchase $115,500 worth of water from Arcadia, and also received a report from Public Works Director Bruce Inman who said that due to the restrictions that were put in place in May, the city used 7.5 million less gallons of water in June compared to June of 2012. 

The amended ordinance would also remove a penalty provision that would have allowed the city to install a water flow restrictor on the home of any resident who had violated the ordinance more than twice.

The summer target would be based on past usage during the July, September and November billing cycles for residents who get their bills in those cycles, and August, October and December for those who get their bills in those months.

The winter target would be based on usage during the winter and Spring months.

The city initially passed the ordinance in May. After receiving some negative input about the measure, the city scheduled another hearing to get public feedback about the ordinance.