Santa Monica Approves Ordinance To Limit Outdoor Watering

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica residents will soon be restricted to watering outdoors two days a week between 9 a.m and 5 p.m. amid the ongoing drought across the Golden State.

On Wednesday night's meeting, the Santa Monica City Council approved the new restrictions under Santa Monica's Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance, which will take effect July 5.

As the state continues to experience scorching temperatures, more frequent wildfires and a persistent drought, the ordinance is intended to help the city align with statewide conservation goals.

READ MORE: Mandatory CA Water Cuts Loom, 'Aggressive' Conservation Urged

Santa Monica residents currently use less than 80 gallons of water per person per day, according to a news release from the city. The July restrictions are expected to reduce the city's water demand between 5 to 13 percent or by 97 to 244 million gallons of water, over a six-month period.

“While Santa Monica has done an amazing job conserving water and decreasing our reliance on imported water, we need to do more locally to help secure our shared resource across the state and region," said Santa Monica Public Works Director Rick Valte. "By approving this new outdoor watering restriction, we not only align with neighboring water agencies, but we continue to lead the region on water conservation efforts."

As historic drought continues to grip Los Angeles County, LA City Attorney Mike Feuer urged Angelenos not to shoot off illegal fireworks this Fourth of July, noting the region's dry conditions that could cause any fire to spread quickly.

"All fireworks in the city are illegal for personal use and only professional and permitted firework shows are the places where Angelenos should go to celebrate the Fourth of July with a fireworks display," Feuer said.

He noted that in 2020, a Northridge apartment building, at 8651 N. Wilbur Ave., burned down due to Fourth of July fireworks.

"And of course, because of our drought, any fire that starts is going to spread very quickly," he said.

The Golden State continues to dry up under extraordinary drought conditions, and Gov. Gavin Newsom last month warned Californians to step up conservation efforts or face mandatory water restrictions.

"Every water agency across the state needs to take more aggressive actions to communicate about the drought emergency and implement conservation measures," Newsom said in a statement. "Californians made significant changes since the last drought but we have seen an uptick in water use, especially as we enter the summer months. We all have to be more thoughtful about how to make every drop count."