Californians May Face 'Unprecedented' Full Watering Ban Due To Drought Crisis [View all]
Topline
In what would be Southern Californias most drastic water conservation effort yet, the regions Metropolitan Water District (MWD) announced Wednesday it may ban outdoor watering completely in some parts of the area by September if the states record-breaking drought conditions continue to worsen, following an order Tuesday lowering the allotted watering time to one day a week for about six million California residents.
Key Facts
If conditions do not improve and water use in the state is not reduced, MWD general manager Adel Hagekhalil said Wednesday the supplier could implement unprecedented measures by banning all outdoor watering by September in cities in several of the regions countiesincluding Los Angeles County, the states largest.
On Tuesday, the MWDthe states regional wholesaler of water and the largest treated water supplier in the countryannounced a water shortage emergency and adopted new restrictions for dozens of cities in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties, lowering outdoor watering allowance to one day a week for about six million people beginning June 1.
The restrictions also apply to businesses such as golf courses, as well as public land such as parks, though individual member agencies from each city can elect to alter the restrictions as long as water use is reduced to around 80 gallons of water per person per day, Rebecca Kimitch, a spokesperson for the MWD, told Forbes.
Violators of the watering restriction will face a penalty of up to $2,000 per acre-foot, according to Kimitch, though tree-watering is exempt from the restriction.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/californians-may-face-unprecedented-full-watering-ban-due-to-drought-crisis/ar-AAWFT87