How Cities Are Saving Water

Here is a city-by-city look at drought-related measures taken by water suppliers serving the San Gabriel Valley. Only mandatory measures are listed. Failure to comply with the measures could result in penalties ranging from fines to the interruption of water service. For more detailed information, contact the agency or company listed on your water bill.

Making a garden water-efficient often starts at the nursery, where a number of drought tolerant plants are available. Pass over the colorful but water-guzzling impatiens, petunias and pansies. For a splash of color that won’t tax the water supply try California poppy, dusty miller, cosmos, sunshine daisy, alyssum, sea lavender, lily of the Nile and day lily. For gound covers, verbena, rosemary, gazania and ice plant are water-efficient, and flowering but water-thrifty shrubs include rockrose, wild lilac, cassia, lantana, oleander and bottlebrush. For lawns, Bermuda grasses, seashore paspalum and zoysia are recommended, although they will go dormant in winter and lose their color.

Once a lawn is established, there are ways of maintaining it that could mean significant water savings. Water the lawn only when it needs it. Step on the grass. If it springs back, it doesn’t need water. When watering, keep in mind that a light sprinkling, which sits on the surface, will evaporate and be wasted.

* Back yard swimming pools account for a significant amount of residential water consumption. According to the Metropolitan Water District, about 14.5% of homes in Southern California have pools. The average pool measures 15 by 30 feet, has a depth of 6.5 feet and holds 22,000 gallons. Among the ways to make pool use water-efficient are using a pool cover and turning off the pool heater. Both prevent evaporation of water. Uncovered, a pool can lose 70 gallons a day.

Cutbacks in Water Use

City Cutback Base (supplier) Ordered Period Arcadia (City water system) 10% Average from 1987 to 1990 Arcadia (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Azusa (Valley County Water District) 30% 1989 Baldwin Park (Valley County Water District) 30% 1989 Bradbury (California-American Water Co. 20% March 1989 to Feb. 1990 Claremont (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Covina (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Duarte (California-American Water Co. 20% March 1989 to Feb. 1990 El Monte (California-American Water Co. 20% March 1989 to Feb. 1990 El Monte (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Hacienda Heights (Rowland Water District) 20% 1990 Industry (Rowland Water District) 20% 1990 Industry (Walnut Valley Water District) 20% 1990 Irwindale (Valley County Water District) 30% 1989 Irwindale (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 La Puente (Rowland Water District) 20% 1990 La Verne *** (City water system) La Verne (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 City Cutback Base (supplier) Ordered Period Monrovia (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Monterey Park (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Pasadena (City water system) 10% 1989 Pomona (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Rosemead (California-American Water Co. 20% March 1989 to Feb. 1990 Rosemead (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Rowland Heights (Rowland Water District) 20% 1990 San Dimas (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 San Gabriel (San Gabriel County Water District) 15% July 1988 to June 1989 San Gabriel (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 San Marino (California-American Water Co. 20% March 1989 to Feb. 1990 Sierra Madre (City water system) 20% 1989 Temple City (California-American Water Co. 20% March 1989 to Feb. 1990 Temple City (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 Walnut (Walnut Valley Water District) 20% 1990 Walnut (Southern California Water Co.) 20% 1990 West Covina (Rowland Water District) 20% 1990 West Covina (Valley County Water District) 30% 1989 West Covina (Walnut Valley Water District) 20% 1990

City Exemption (supplier) Level* Arcadia (City water system) 250 Arcadia (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Azusa (Valley County Water District) 100 Baldwin Park (Valley County Water District) 100 Bradbury (California-American Water Co. 324 Claremont (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Covina (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Duarte (California-American Water Co. 324 El Monte (California-American Water Co. 324 El Monte (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Hacienda Heights (Rowland Water District) ** Industry (Rowland Water District) ** Industry (Walnut Valley Water District) ** Irwindale (Valley County Water District) 100 Irwindale (Southern California Water Co.) 300 La Puente (Rowland Water District) ** La Verne *** (City water system) La Verne (Southern California Water Co.) 300 City Exemption (supplier) Level* Monrovia (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Monterey Park (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Pasadena (City water system) 245 Pomona (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Rosemead (California-American Water Co. 324 Rosemead (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Rowland Heights (Rowland Water District) ** San Dimas (Southern California Water Co.) 300 San Gabriel (San Gabriel County Water District) 300 San Gabriel (Southern California Water Co.) 300 San Marino (California-American Water Co. 324 Sierra Madre (City water system) 250 Temple City (California-American Water Co. 324 Temple City (Southern California Water Co.) 300 Walnut (Walnut Valley Water District) ** Walnut (Southern California Water Co.) 300 West Covina (Rowland Water District) ** West Covina (Valley County Water District) 100 West Covina (Walnut Valley Water District) **

* Some water conservation plans exempt users from the restrictions if they use less than a stipulated number of gallons per day. Those exemption levels are indicated in this column.

** Customers using less than the “neighborhood average” are exempt.

*** Those using more than 20,000 gallons every two-month billing period face financial penalties.

Other Mandatory Measures Alhambra (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Arcadia (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Arcadia (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Azusa (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Azusa (Valley County Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Baldwin Park (Valley County Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Bradbury (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Claremont (Southern Calif. Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Covina (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Covina (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Diamond Bar (Walnut Valley Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Duarte (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

El Monte (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

El Monte (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Glendora (City water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Hacienda Heights (Rowland Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Industry (Rowland Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Industry (Walnut Valley Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Irwindale (Valley County Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Irwindale (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

La Puente (Rowland Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

La Verne (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

La Verne (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Monrovia (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Monrovia (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Monrovia (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Monterey Park (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Pasadena (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Pomona (Walnut Valley Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Pomona (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Rosemead (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Rosemead (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Rosemead (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Rosemead (San Gabriel County Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Rowland Heights (Rowland Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Rowland Heights (Walnut Valley Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

San Dimas (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

San Gabriel (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

San Gabriel (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

San Gabriel (San Gabriel County Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

San Marino (City) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

San Marino (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Sierra Madre (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

South Pasadena (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Temple City (California-American Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Temple City (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Walnut (Walnut Valley Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

Walnut (Southern California Water Co.) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

West Covina (city water system) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

West Covina (Rowland Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

West Covina (Walnut Valley Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly

West Covina (Valley County Water District) No hosing off driveways, walkways and patios No lawn watering during most day hours No car washing with free-flowing hose Water in restaurants served only by request Ban on non-recycling decorative fountains Water leaks must be repaired promptly