Notoriously Strict Calabasas Water District Scales Back Response

CALABASAS, CA — Known for its strict drought restrictions, the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District walked back regulations after recent storms provided much needed water to California reserves.

The State Water Project announced additional water allocations to a number of Southern California water districts, including Las Virgenes, delivering 30 percent of requested water supplies. Las Virgenes was previously expecting only 5 percent of its requested water.

The district will move from stage three drought response — where it's been for over a year — to stage two, which would mean no more flow restrictors for residents who overshoot their water budgets. Residents will still be restricted to one-day-per-week watering and other enforcement tools, like monitoring excessive runoff, will remain, according to staff.

Individualized water budgets were also set to increase with the step down to calmer restrictions. Residents were still asked to conserve water by 20 percent collectively in 2023, which board members considered possible even with loosened restrictions. The previous target under Stage 3 was 35 percent collective water reduction, which residents did an "incredible job" of accomplishing, according to the district.

The district will reconsider adding flow restriction devices for water budget violations.

"LVMWD customers have averaged a 40 [percent] overall decrease in water usage over the past six months, compared to the same time period in 2020. This level of conservation was historic and effective in preventing the need for an altogether ban on outdoor watering," the district said in a news release.

Calabasas residents were restricted to one-day-per-week watering starting in May 2022 after three consecutive years of elevated drought conditions in California.

"Water supply conditions have changed quite dramatically in the state," General Manager David Pederson said. "The drought is not over but the conditions have improved. ... Five percent is very very low. 30 percent is also low but in the scheme of things, much, much better."

Beyond its practical implications, the deescalation also reflects a change in the district's relationship with customers from strictly transactional to something more collaborative, Public Affairs and Communications Manager Mike McNutt said.

"It's evolving the narrative from enforcing water conservation to choosing water conservation or efficiency as a way of life. We think that is a natural progression of this district's outreach initiative," McNutt said.

Despite the positive trend, the Las Virgenes area is still not in the clear, board members said.

"While wet and dry years are commonplace in California, climate change has increased the intensity and frequency of these periods, resulting in drier and hotter conditions, and longer timeframes between precipitation events," the district said in a news release. "Mother nature has given us the opportunity to collectively catch our breath. By continuing to conserve and making water use efficiency a California Way of Life, we will be better prepared for the next dry period."