In response to the record drought, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called for the city to reduce its fresh water use by 20 percent over the next three years.
“Our relationship with water must evolve. We cannot afford the water policies of the past,” said Garcetti in a press conference Tuesday afternoon, when he announced the executive directive.
As of early October, about 58 percent of the state, including much of L.A. County, is in an exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Garcetti ordered city departments to dramatically decrease water usage by reducing the watering of lawns and plants in city landscaping and on streets and sidewalks.
The directive also requires the Department of Water and Power to reduce its purchase of imported water by 50 percent by 2024. Over 80 percent of the water the city uses comes from imported water.
The directive asks that L.A. residents voluntarily decrease their watering of outdoor landscapes to two days a week and use the rebate from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to install landscaping that is drought-tolerant, in addition to more efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances.
If the reduction targets are not met through those actions, Garcetti said he will seek mandates to restrict water usage, which would include a limit on outdoor watering to two or fewer days a week.
Compiled by John Peter Cavender, Bruin contributor.