Considering that I still see people washing sidewalks and driveways, and lawn sprinklers running at noon, I like the approach that Long Beach is taking. By educating the public through print, online, and television ads, the city has managed to reduce water use by 13% over this month last year. That’s a significant drop, considering that Long Beach was responsible for pumping 1.85 billion gallons in July.

Long Beach also provides rebates to companies, often the largest users of water, for water conservation devices. By installing new shower heads, low-flow toilets, or irrigation controls, businesses can get money back while reducing water costs at the same time. A win-win. Residents can also receive rebates on toilets, clothes washers, and irrigation devices.

The City of Los Angeles is taking a different tack, doubling fines for those who break the city’s rules. large water consumers (like businesses) that consistently flout regulations may face quadrupled fines. Restrictions include the obvious, like prohibiting the watering of lawns between 9am and 4pm or while it’s raining, the washing of sidewalks and driveways, and washing cars with a hose that lacks a shut-off nozzle. The city also prohibits restaurants from providing water to patrons unless they specifically ask for it. Though this last one seems minor, consider that it takes eight glasses of water just to wash the glass after use.

Though Los Angeles has a task force assigned to patrol for these violations, residents are asked to call 800-DIAL-DWP to report sightings of water misuse. Getting our citizens involved in policing water abusers will be key, as only a few inspectors are employed to issue citations and educate the public.

Southern California’s drought is real, and it’s here to stay. Do what you can to reduce your use!

Photo credit: Randy Son of Robert from Flickr under Creative Commons License