Newport Beach misses water-saving goals

While most Orange County cities met or exceeded state water reduction mandates in August despite the summer’s sweltering temperatures, Newport Beach’s city utility continues to struggle to slash use.

Newport’s cumulative water savings from June to August were 22.8%, exactly 5.2% short of the state mandated goal, data released Thursday from the State Water Resources Control Board show.

The board has ordered Newport, which serves 66,219 customers, to cumulatively cut 28% of its use from June to February compared with those months in 2013.

The city hit the goal one time, in July, but missed the mark in June and August, when it reduced only 21% and 20%, respectively, the data show.

The missed target means that Newport is lagging behind other area water districts, including Mesa Water and Irvine Ranch Water District, who appear to be on track to meet state goals.

Irvine Ranch Water District, which missed its goal of 16% in June, exceeded its reduction mandate in July and August. The water district, which serves 387,501 customers in parts of Newport, Irvine and unincorporated areas, reduced its water use by 17.8% last month.

Mesa Water, which serves 108,000 customers in Costa Mesa and portions of Newport, exceeded its 20% reduction mandated for the third consecutive month. In August, the agency decreased use 25.3%, the data show.

Mesa spokeswoman Noelle Collins attributed positive numbers to residents taking advantage of rebates that made it cost effective to replace grass lawns with artificial turf as well as communication efforts.

“For the most part people are listening,” she said. “We’ve been really fortunate.”

George Murdoch, Newport Beach’s general manager for utilities, has said the city ramped up communication efforts with residents by adding signs along street medians that remind users that “brown is the new green” and placing door hangers on houses citywide after Newport missed the target in June.

Mayor Ed Selich suggested creating some type of online system that would allow ratepayers to look at how much water they’re using daily, per week and per month.

When he wants to know how much water he’s used, Selich said he has to remove the covering off his water meter outside and write down the data to track it himself.

“How many people are going to take the time to do that?” he said. “I think it’s hard for people to understand what their usage is. We should make it easier.”

If Newport Beach does not meet reduction mandates, the state water board could issue a conservation order, which directs districts on specific measures to reduce water use, or levy fines.

Californians statewide reduced water use by nearly 27% in August, down from July’s record savings of 31.4%. However, state water board officials believe savings will increase during the cooler fall and winter seasons.

“With continued heat, the danger of wildfires, and no way of knowing when the drought will end, every drop of water that remains in our local reservoirs and aquifers is insurance in case of another dry year or more,” Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, wrote in a prepared statement.