“””i’ve lived in socal for over 20 years.
i’ve never seen any water conservation. people waste water here.”””
To minimize the impacts caused by the shortfalls in imported surface water supplies, most agencies in the region established and implemented rationing programs during the 1987-92 drought to bring demand in line with supplies. Customer rationing allotments were determined by the customer’s use prior to the drought. Rationing levels, or reductions, ranged from 15 to 50 percent.
Programs implemented by the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles are typical of the efforts agencies throughout the region made to combat recent drought-induced shortages. The City of San Diego implemented a 20-percent rationing program for its customers during 1991; a 10-percent program had been in place since 1988. Other programs and activities by San Diego included establishing customer rebates for the installation of ultra-low-flush toilets, distributing free showerheads, providing turf and home audit service, expanding the existing public information program (with a 24-hour hotline), establishing a field crew to handle waste-of-water complaints, constructing a xeriscape demonstration garden, and retrofitting city water facilities. Landscape designs for new private and public construction are regulated for water conservation by a 1986 city ordinance. San Diego also has ordinances that permit enacting water conservation measures and programs during critical water supply situations and that require all residential dwellings to be retrofitted prior to resale.
The City of Los Angeles has had a rationing program in place since 1986. The program was mandatory for all its customers until early in 1992, when it was revised to voluntary status. The program originally called for a 10-percent reduction; however, it was amended to 15 percent during 1992 when the State’s water supply situation worsened. Programs established by Los Angeles are similar to those described for San Diego. Los Angeles also established a “drought buster” field program with staff patrolling neighborhoods looking for water wasters. Table SC-3 shows the region’s water supplies with existing facilities and programs.
Actually, I can think of a conservation effort in LA that has stuck. You can’t get a glass of water when you go to a restaurant! But I still think it has more to do with pushing other drinks on people. I remember that was instituted during the last drought, and is accepted practice now.
i lived in san diego during that period and remember those low flush toilets, for example, that have questionable results.
homeowners water during the wrong times of the day, everyday, in comparison to denver that i mentioned above.
along the coast where the humidity is high, compared to inland california and colorado, there should be less watering.
along the coast systems should be designed to take the humidity into account and recent rainfall. i’ve seen businesses and apartment buildings waste water. after a rainfall the apartment sprinklers come on.
where i live water runs down the streets all the time.
cars have to be washed every day or every few days, which is ridiculous.
there’s no “water consciousness” in socal that you see in denver.
The water shortage in SoCal meant that there were a lot of empty swimming pools in back yards, and eventually skateboarders sneaked in and rode their boards in them. That’s why the skateboard half-pipes look so much like swimming pools.
/a completely unrelated remark