Full Notification

Beverly Hills City Council Approves Strict New Water Conservation Measures

Mandatory 36 Percent Reduction in Water Use Sought

Beverly Hills, CA –The Beverly Hills City Council at the April 21 study session agreed to implement a modified version of Stage D of the City’s emergency water conservation program in order to meet the state-mandated goal of a 36% reduction in water use. The strict new conservation measures were imposed in response to the severe state-wide drought and a projected 15% cutback in water delivery from the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies 90% of the City’s water.
“We are in a crisis situation with the drought and Beverly Hills is determined to meet the new water conservation goals,” said Mayor Julian Gold. “We will evaluate our progress on a regular basis and make adjustments to our conservation program as needed. New technology as well as education will be a big part of the program because saving water is a long range as well as a short range goal.”
The changes include limiting landscape watering to two rather than three days a week. In addition, the City will launch a comprehensive outreach program to educate water customers about the new restrictions and ways they can cut back on their water consumption, particularly outdoor watering. Irrigation of residential landscaping accounts for 60% - 70% of the annual water usage in the City and is where the most savings can be achieved.
The City’s new water conservation requirements are listed below:
 Restaurants shall serve water upon request only.
 All public restrooms in the City and private bathrooms in hotels shall notify patrons and employees of water conservation goals.
 Plumbing and irrigation leaks shall be repaired as soon as practicable. The City may issue notices to repair visible leaks.
 Landscape irrigation shall be restricted to two days per week
 Existing swimming pools cannot be drained and refilled
 Exterior wash-down of buildings and wash-down of vehicles shall be prohibited, unless:
o The washing is done on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station or with reclaimed wastewater. or
o The health, safety and welfare of the public are contingent upon frequent vehicle cleaning, such as the cleaning of garbage trucks and vehicles to transport food and perishables.
 Water usage from fire hydrants shall be limited to firefighting, related activities or other activities necessary to maintain the public health, safety and welfare.
 Except for single-family and multi-family residential users in tier 1 who will remain in tier 1 for the next billing cycle, users shall reduce water usage to seventy percent (70%) of the amount in the baseline period as determined by the City council.
 Except for single-family and multi-family residential users in tier 1 during the current billing cycle, a tiered water penalty surcharge based on the cost of providing the higher volume of water will be established.
 Violation by any person of the mandatory requirements for outdoor watering shall constitute a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Continued excessive use may result in termination of water supply through irrigation water services and/or restriction of water supply through domestic meters. The violation of each element, and each separate violation thereof, shall be deemed a separate offense, and shall be punished accordingly.
The City of Beverly Hills has an automated leak detection program and will continue to notify residents if a leak is identified on a property. For information on rebates and how to track your water consumption, go to www.beverlyhills.org/waterconservation. Also, for tips on how to conserve water, go to MWD’s website at www.bewaterwise.com.
All actions with the exception of usage penalties will be effective immediately following passage of a City Council resolution on May 5. Analysis on the tiered penalty rate will be completed over the next couple of months to ensure compliance with state law.
The Metropolitan Water District is offering rebates for installing weather-based irrigation controllers, rotating sprinkler nozzles, soil moisture sensors and for replacing grass with drought-tolerant plants. In addition, rebates are also offered for purchasing high-efficiency clothes washing machines and toilets.