Too much yard watering can trigger fines in Laguna district

Laguna Beach County Water District customers may be fined for watering their yards more than three days a week after the district board voted unanimously Aug. 7 for stricter conservation measures.

The district implemented voluntary conservation steps four years ago, including limiting outdoor watering between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., but went a step further in calling for a Level 1 water supply shortage, Assistant General Manager Christopher Regan said.

Under the stepped-up rules, customers must limit lawn watering and fix pipe leaks within 48 hours of notification. Workers may temporarily shut off water if a resident cannot be contacted, according to a staff report.

District customers receive one warning but then face a $100 fine for a second violation, according to the staff report. Fines for successive offenses increase to $250 and $500, respectively.

The authority to fine customers for excessive use has always been in place, but Laguna Beach County’s goal is education and compliance, Regan said.

Residents in the district’s 8.5-mile radius — which includes Emerald Bay and parts of Crystal Cove — may not allow water from hoses or sprinklers to flow into adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public waterways, roadways and parking lots. They are prohibited from hosing off sidewalks and driveways and washing cars without using a bucket or a hose with a shutoff nozzle.

The South Coast Water District, which serves customers in South Laguna, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, has warned residents against excessive water use since 2009, General Manager Andrew Brunhart said.

In February, the South Coast board voted to limit watering to three days a week between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., according to the district’s website.

South Coast workers place notices on doors to let customers know of a broken pipe or excess watering and how to address the problem, Brunhart said.

“Ninety-nine percent of customers who receive a second notice comply,” Brunhart said. “They call us asking for help. We haven’t needed to fine people.”

In July, the State Water Resources Control Board, which oversees individual water districts, approved mandatory water conservation measures and fines of up to $10,000 on agencies that do not comply.

“Our guys are constantly in the field monitoring ... but we rely on our customers to contact us about problems,” Regan said. “Residents will notice a broken sprinkler head and give us a call.”