New Watering Schedule for LADWP Customers

The City of Los Angeles has made some changes to the Water Conservation Ordinance which affects LADWP customers. As of August 25, 2010 watering days will be expanded and will be based on the customer’s street address. The number of watering days has now been expanded from two to three days per week. Customers whose addresses end with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) are permitted to irrigate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. LADWP customers whose addresses end with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 ) may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Addresses ending in fractions will be treated as the last whole number in the address and will observe the same day restrictions as others on their same side of the street. For example 4321 1/2 is considered the same as 4321, or an odd numbered address.

Sprinkler time limits have also been changed based on the type of nozzle or sprinkler head. Spray heads and bubblers (non-conserving models) may be run for up to 8 minutes per station per day. Rotors and multi-stream rotary heads are allowed 15 minutes per cycle and up to two cycles per station per day. Watering is restricted to before 9:00 am and after 4:00 pm to reduce evaporation. Low flow drip irrigation remains exempt from the above restrictions.

All other prohibited uses of water remain in effect including:

• Watering of any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways or parking areas
• Outdoor watering during periods of rain
• Allowing runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering
• Allowing leaks from any pipe or fixture to go un-repaired
• Using water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is part of a  recirculating system
• Allowing large landscape areas to be watered without rain sensors that shut off irrigation systems

Watering by hand using a garden hose (must have a self closing shut-off nozzle in place) is still allowed any day of the week before 9:00 am or after 4:00 pm. The Water Conservation Ordinance was modified to minimize pressure fluctuations which may have led to a series of major water line breaks over the past two years. For further information on the Water Conservation Ordinance please visit www.ladwp.com.