In July, Los Angeles residents reduced their water use by 21%, meeting the standard that state regulators implemented and avoiding fines and penalties imposed by the state.
Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the news Wednesday, stating, “Los Angeles continues to lead our state in crucial water conservation efforts in the face of this historic drought. … [Los Angeles] is embracing sustainability and achieving real change,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles also met the new standards, which were based on Gov. Jerry Brown’s requirement of 25% statewide reduction in urban water use.
The Times reported that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) was ordered to reduce water use by 16% on “both a monthly and a rolling cumulative basis until the end of February 2016.”
The DWP barely met the standard in June; the actual reduction came in slightly under 16%, but state regulators rounded up the figure.
DWP General Manager Marcie Edwards stated:
This is a great achievement that demonstrates the city’s commitment to sustainability and our customers’ willingness to make lifestyle changes and save water during this drought. Customers have been taking advantage of LADWP’s many rebate and incentive programs, which help reduce customers’ costs and save water.
In July, 1,990 reports of water waste were sent to the DWP, which issued only ten monetary fines. The Daily News reported in May that because the DWP had already made reductions, L.A. officials convinced state regulators to lower the mandate from 25% to 16%.