Newport and Mesa districts miss October water-use reduction targets

As the clock ticks toward the February deadline for water suppliers to meet state mandates for reduced water use, some water districts are feeling a push to catch up — or keep up — on conservation.

The State Water Resources Control Board ordered Newport Beach, which serves 66,219 customers, to cumulatively cut use 28% from June this year to February 2016, compared with that period two years ago. The city hit the goal once, in July, but missed the mark in June, August, September and October, when ratepayers reduced use by 14.2%, the city’s lowest conservation level since the mandate was put in place. The October figure is the most recent available.

Cumulatively, the city utility has conserved 20.8%, according to data released by the state board Tuesday.

In an attempt to meet the mandates, the city in September began ramping up enforcement efforts and levying more fines to water wasters. That month, the city handed out 296 warnings and 44 citations carrying fines ranging from $100 to $500.

In November, the city issued nearly 500 warnings and 41 citations to ratepayers who were using too much water or had violated other rules such as watering outside on a day when it is not allowed. Signs throughout the city remind residents they are allowed to irrigate their lawns only one day per week. Areas of the city are allotted a particular day for watering.

“We plan to send an automated phone call and/or email to every customer not meeting the requirements,” said George Murdoch, the city’s general manager for utilities.

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Mesa Water also off target

In Costa Mesa, the Mesa Water District also struggled to meet state mandates in October but still appears on track to meet its cumulative conservation goal.

Mesa Water, which serves 108,000 customers in Costa Mesa and portions of Newport Beach, is required to reduce water consumption by 20% compared with two years ago, but managed only a 7.7% reduction in October. That was the lowest conservation level of any Orange County water supplier in October.

Mesa also missed its September target, managing a 17.8% cut, data show.

Noelle Collins, the district’s public affairs coordinator, said an unseasonably warm October contributed to the district missing its monthly goal.

Also, she said, ratepayers already had begun conserving in October 2013, resulting in a lower comparison number than in previous months.

“Our baseline was lower,” Collins said. “We didn’t have much room for conservation. It wasn’t that people were using more water.”

The Mesa Water District board voted in November to reduce the number of days ratepayers are allowed to irrigate their lawns from two to one. Now, customers are permitted to water outdoors only before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Saturdays.

“Mesa Water customers are doing a great job conserving, but we can do more,” said district General Manager Paul Shoenberger. “With outdoor watering providing the biggest opportunity for conservation, we expect that the one-day-a-week watering schedule through February will help the district achieve the state-mandated 20% conservation goal.”

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Irvine Ranch district beats goal

The Irvine Ranch Water District cut water use by 23.7% in October after missing its goal of 16% in September. The district, which serves 387,501 customers in parts of Newport Beach, Irvine and unincorporated areas, is on track to meet its cumulative reduction target, data show.

With the approach of winter, when outdoor watering usually dips, “we need to keep finding ways to save water,” said Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board.

“While El Niño storms may bring significant rain this winter, the depth of our drought and the uncertainty of the amount, type and location of precipitation means we have to continue conserving every way we can,” she said.