Though short of monthly target, Glendale continues to meet cumulative water-saving goal

Glendale didn’t conserve as much water in November as it did in previous months, but the city continues to meet the cumulative goal set by the state in response to the ongoing drought.

Local residents in November consumed 16.4% less water than the same month in 2013, shy of the monthly 20% target established by California’s Water Control Board.

But there’s a reason for that, according to a local utility official.

“November is typically a lower usage month, so it kind of makes sense that there wouldn’t be the same percentage reduction,” said Michael De Ghetto, assistant general manager of Glendale Water & Power.

Average in the dry summer months when the city achieved near 25% reduction levels and Glendale’s cumulative drop in usage is 23.8%, according to state data.

So the city is on track toward meeting the cumulative 20% goal by February. More water-guzzling cities such as Beverly Hills, however, have a much higher goal of 35%.

Part of Glendale’s conservation success has been driven by its water consumption ordinance, which was elevated to phase three this year and, in turn, restricts lawn watering to two days a week.

Also included in the ordinance is a clause prohibiting watering until at least 48 hours after a rainfall.

With El Niño’s arrival this week, utility officials are trying to get the word out in the community about that restriction.

“That’s kind of been our message since November,” De Ghetto said. “We’re saying when it’s raining, turn [the sprinklers] off, even on a watering day.”

Mayor Ara Najarian said neighbors have been doing a good job of reminding one another of when it’s OK to water a frontyard.

He also touted the water conservation ordinance.

“Phase three is successful because, at that level, we start to put some teeth in the ordinance,” Najarian said. “We’re more aggressively reaching out to water wasters. I believe that everybody is becoming used to a two-day-a-week watering scheme.”

Glendale Water & Power this year also began issuing written warnings and fines to habitual water wasters, especially those who run their sprinklers on restricted days.

In November, 63 first warnings were issued. Since that time, 12 second warnings and 14 third warnings have been handed out.

Nine residents got the point of paying $100 fines. There’s also a fine of $100 for a second violation and $500 for a third, but De Ghetto said no one has been penalized past the initial fine.

As for Najarian, he said he tries to do his part by not only watering his lawn less often, but foregoing washing his car.

Even though El Niño is bringing more rain than usual to the area, it doesn’t mean people should be slacking off on saving water, he said.

“In fact, it’s an even better opportunity to save,” Najarian said. “We don’t have to water our lawns. We don’t have to water our garden. We don’t have to wash our cars, and we don’t have to hose off our patios … let Mother Nature do the rest.”

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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian