State board adjusts water cutbacks

To avoid penalizing groups of people who have already cut back per capita usage, the State Water Board on Saturday adjusted mandatory water cutbacks for government water agencies to enforce on their customers.

But mandatory cutbacks were increased slightly for communities where water usage is high, such as Fallbrook and Rancho Santa Fe.

Districts and cities that have more than 215 gallons per day in average per capita use must slash their total usage by 36 percent, the State Water Board ordered Saturday. That’s up a hair from earlier cutback orders of 35 percent.

Ramona Municipal Water District customers will have to wait until mid-May for specifics on how cutbacks will affect them, the district’s general manager told Ramona district directors April 14.

City of San Diego customers face an aggregate 16 percent cutback, rather than 20 percent. Los Angeles and its DWP got a similar partial reprieve.

In orders released Saturday, water agencies are to accomplish the water usage cutbacks starting in June and reach compliance by next February.

Previously, the board had put California water districts in four categories. That has become nine categories, and areas that have already demonstrated accomplishments in water use reductions have been given a break.

So have low-income, densely populated cities where water consumption per person is very low, and where 4 percent reductions have been ordered.

At the other end of the spectrum are Fallbrook, Rancho Santa Fe and other areas, where lush landscaping and large lots have resulted in an increase in drinking water use. People in Rancho Santa Fe buy nearly 605 gallons of water per person per day.

Those areas must cut water use by 36 percent or face penalties, rate hikes, or more-drastic measures, the state board ruled.