First of two parts.
Drought-driven water restrictions for Culver City and most other California communities officially were relaxed this week by the state Water Resources Control Board.
Golden State Water Co., chief provider for most Culver City homes and businesses, along with three-quarters of other California suppliers, will be allowed to use as much water as they did in 2013, the year that was the main measurement for initiating restrictions.
Golden State notified its customers of the changes by postcard this week.
Public Works Director Charles Herbertson explained how this unanticipated relief came about:
“Water supply has become better up north after last year’s winter.
“It is not as if Golden State has a giant reservoir nearby. They have agreements with various sources. All of the water in Culver City is coming from the Metropolitan Water District, through the middle man, the West Basin Municipal Water District. That water, basically, is coming from Northern California or the Colorado River.
“Here is what has happened.
“Each water agency had to come up with its own plan and submit it for review by the state,” he said. “Golden State has done that. They undergo a stress test to determine the amount of water they can supply.”
The findings mean that the previous mandatory order – a 16 percent reduction in water usage from 2013 levels – has been lifted.
Quite without a smile, Mr. Herbertson added, “Now it’s voluntary. This means if people don’t adhere to (the 16 percent reduction level), they probably will not be fined.”
He noted that the city of Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power covers part of Culver City, too, which means slightly different calculations. This affects the western portion of the community along Washington Boulevard, west of the 405 Freeway. “The LADWP reduction was 14 percent, but now it is zero,” Mr. Herbertson said. “Mayor Garcetti, however, has asked for a voluntary reduction of 20 percent.”
Golden State had the authority to penalize customers, he said, if they exceeded restriction levels – “but it never reached that stage.”
(To be continued)