Mayor Eric Garcetti

Amidst a record drought, Mayor Eric Garcetti today issued an executive directive to dramatically reduce the use of fresh water and the purchase of costly imported water.

“Our relationship with water must evolve. We cannot afford the water policies of the past,” said Mayor Garcetti. “We must conserve, recycle and rethink how we use our water to save money and make sure that we have enough water to keep L.A. growing.”

Mayor Garcetti’s directive requires a reduction in fresh water use by 20 percent by 2017 and in the DWP’s purchase of imported water by 50 percent by 2024. The directive represents a comprehensive approach that addresses supply, use and recycling.

Through the directive, Mayor Garcetti is ordering city departments to sharply cut water use by reducing watering and replacing lawns or other water-intensive landscaping at city facilities, street medians and sidewalk parkways, in addition to increasing city incentives to help L.A. residents do the same, including an increase in the DWP’s turf replacement incentive to $3.75 per square foot. Outdoor water use is a key area to address – it represents 50 percent of residential consumption.

Angelenos are asked to voluntarily reduce watering to two days a week; to use DWP rebates to install low water landscaping and more efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances; and to ensure pools are covered to reduce water lost to evaporation. If targets are not met through the combination of mandatory city actions and voluntary resident actions, residential mandates will be implemented, including new watering, swimming pool and car washing restrictions. Mayor Garcetti urges residents to visit www.lamayor.org/drought for information on how to access incentives and lower their water bills through conservation. (Full Story at LAmayor)