Water Use Prohibitions in the City of Long Beach

1. Washing driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, patios or other outdoor areas with a hose unless using a water-conserving pressurized cleaning device; a simple spray nozzle does not qualify as a water-conserving pressurized cleaning device
2. Irrigating landscape with potable water any day other than Monday, Thursday, or Saturday, except for very short periods of time for the expressed purpose of adjusting or repairing the irrigation system;
3. Irrigating landscape with potable water between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.;
4. Irrigating landscape with potable water using stream rotator-type or gear-driven sprinklers for more than fifteen (15) minutes per watering day per station, or for more than ten (10) minutes per watering day per station for all other types of sprinklers. Exempt from these landscape irrigation restrictions are irrigation systems using very low-flow drip-type irrigation when no emitter produces more than two (2) gallons of water per hour;
5. Operating an irrigation system which, in the determination of the General Manager, is significantly water-inefficient by virtue of any or all of the following: excessive over spray, misting, over pressurization, misaligned or tilted spray heads, or any other malfunction or out-of-adjustment condition; and
6. Irrigating landscape using reclaimed water to the point that the landscape becomes saturated and irrigation waters flow off the landscape.
7. Permitting the excess use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected;
8. Watering or irrigating lawns, turf, or landscape areas beyond saturation causing significant runoff, as determined by the Long Beach Water Department (Department);
9. Operating a fountain or other water feature that does not recirculate the water

For irrigation repair or commercial landscape services contact us at (800) 339-2102 or by email at info @ wcgminc.com. For residential sprinkler repair information visit LAsprinklerrepair.com (Los Angeles) or OCsprinklerrepair.com (Orange County).

If you are a customer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, beginning June 1st new outdoor watering restrictions and higher water rates will take effect. Are you ready? If you’re not familiar with the city’s water conservation ordinance, then you should probably take the time to read through this article, because if you don’t, it could cost you some money.

Southern California is in it’s third year of drought. Less than average snowfall in the Sierras, an increasing population, and water reductions due to environmental concerns in the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta region have all combined to create a severe water shortage. The city of Los Angeles has decided to invoke the next phase of their water conservation plan which increases water rates and adds new watering restrictions.

Under the new phase of the ordinance, the following is illegal:

• Watering using sprinklers on any day other than Monday and Thursday
• Watering landscaping (including lawns) between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm
• Watering using rotor (gear driven) type sprinklers for more than 15 minutes per station, and more than 10 minutes for all other type sprinklers (excluding drip irrigation)
• Using water on any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways or parking areas
• Allowing runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering
• Allowing leaks from any pipe or fixture to go unrepaired
• Using water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is part of a recirculating system
• Permitting watering during periods of rain

It’s probably important to note that the ordinance also specifically states that large landscape areas, such as parks and open fields, must have rain shut off devices installed. Large landscape area is left somewhat open to interpretation, but it’s probably a good idea to install a rain shut off device on your system if you don’t have one. The above restrictions do not apply to the use of reclaimed water, so long as it does not result in excess water flow or runoff. Large turf customers such as parks and golf courses can deviate from the specified non-watering days as long as their irrigation system includes weather-based irrigation controllers; however, each station is still limited to the number days allowed to irrigate. Also, low-flow drip type irrigation when no emitter produces more than 2 gallons per hour are exempt from the 10 minute time limit.

Penalties for non-compliance are based on water meter size. Customers with a meter smaller than 2 inches will receive a written notice for the first violation. A second violation within a 12 month period will result in a $100 surcharge, a third violation within 12 months is $200, and it’s $300 for a fourth violation. After a fifth violation, the LADWP may install a flow restricting device. For a 2″ meter or larger it’s a written notice for the first violation, $200 for a second violation within a 12 month period, $400 for a third and $600 for the fourth. Again, a fifth violation will lead to the LADWP installing a flow restricting device.

On June 1 “Shortage Year Water Rates” will also take effect, this could mean a higher water bill for you if you don’t take steps to reduce your consumption. Tier 1 rates are the lowest rate you can purchase water at. This new phase of the ordinance cuts the amount of water you can purchase at the Tier 1 rate by 15%. If you’re already using 15% less than your allotment, you will not see an increase in your water bill. However, if you exceed the reduced Tier 1 allotment, you will end up paying the higher Tier 2 rate and will most definitely see an increase in your water bill.

Did you know that as much as 50% of your water consumption occurs outdoors? By following the above restrictions, and implementing some simple water conservation tips, you can reduce the amount of water you use dramatically. We all need to do our part to help conserve this precious resource. The population will continue to grow, but the amount of available water will not. The next phase of the water conservation plan calls for watering only 1 day per week and the following phase allows no watering at all. Los Angeles is an oasis in the middle of the desert. To keep it that way we need to be smart about how we use our water.

If you would like further information please visit the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s website at www.ladwp.com or contact them by phone at (800) DIAL DWP. For some outdoor conservation tips check out “Top 10 Water Conservation Tips“. For irrigation repair services contact us at (800) 339-2102 or by email at info @ wcgminc.com. For residential sprinkler repair information visit LAsprinklerrepair.com (Los Angeles) or OCsprinklerrepair.com (Orange County).

With the impending threat of water rationing all across Southern California due to years of drought, an opportunity has opened up for landscape contractors who specialize in water conservation. We plan to fill that niche by providing services such as:

• Irrigation system and sprinkler tuning
• “Smart” controller, rain and moisture sensor installations
• Sprinkler head and general irrigation system retrofitting
• News, tips, and other information on water conservation

Of course we’ll still offer more common services such as sprinkler, pipe, and valve repairs. Keeping your irrigation system in pristine condition is extremely important. Thousands of gallons of water are wasted every day down the storm drain due to broken sprinklers. Many cities are beginning to levy hefty fines on both businesses and residences when they find offenders. Keeping your system working properly will save water and money. We can help.

Our residential irrigation services will be marketed through two new websites: ocsprinklerrepair.com and lasprinklerrepair.com. The first will cover the Orange County area of Southern California including cities such as Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, and Huntington Beach. The latter of which will be targetd to the greater Los Angeles area. It is our mission to help our customers reduce their water consumption while still maintaining a healthy, green landscape. Education is the key. We hope to become a water conservation leader in the industry by providing useful information to Southern California’s residents that will help them save our most precious asset, water.

If you’re interested in our services or have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (800) 339-2102 or by email at info @ wcgminc.com. WCGM, Inc. is licensed, bonded, and insured.

Healthy Myoporum Foilage (Click to Enlarge)

All across the Southern California coast, from San Diego to Santa Barbara, our landscapes are being attacked by a foreign invader. This enemy comes from Australia (or possibly New Zealand), is so tiny that you would probably miss it if you didn’t know it was there, and can cause some serious damage. This new pest is known as the Myoporum Thrip (Klambothrips myopori) and as you might have guessed attacks Myoporum.

There are two species of Myoporum which are popular in California and are especially susceptible including:

• Myoporum laetum – a large shrub/small tree
• Myoporum ‘Pacificum’ – a large, fast-growing groundcover

Myoporum Thrip Damage (Click to Enlarge)

These plants are popular because of their aesthetics, low maintenance requirements, and hardiness. Relatively few pests or diseases attacked these plants until recently. Now the Myoporum Thrip is causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage to our Southern California landscapes. Often used along freeways and roads you can see miles worth of these plants severely infested and in many instances completely defoliated.

Thrips feed on the foliage causing it to twist and distort. Leaf galls will also appear where the adults lay their eggs and the larvae develop. If the infestation is heavy enough it can completely defoliate the plant and cause death.

Identifying this pest is not difficult if you look closely. While very small, the adults are only 2 -2.5 mm in length, they are visible to the naked eye. They are distinguishable by their long skinny bodies. The adults are a dark brown or black color, while the larvae are a translucent to slightly orange color. You’ll know they are there by the tell-tale damage on the plant.

Myoporum Thrip Adults (Click to Enlarge)

So how do we combat this new invader? Since it’s not a native species, the Myoporum Thrip has no natural enemies here in Southern California. That’s why it has run rampant. At the moment there is no effective solution except to provide proper cultural care, which might or might not help. Imidacloprid (Merit), a systemic insecticide, may help somewhat, but it’s not entirely effective and may harm other beneficial insects. Researchers are working on biological controls to help stop the devastation. In the past they have been able to introduce natural enemies of a pest, such as parasitic wasps, that have helped control similar epidemics. For now we’ll just have to wait and see.