Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday signed into law an ordinance that imposes water restrictions on restaurants and hotels.
The law prohibits restaurants from serving water unless requested by customers, and requires hotels and motels to give guests the option of re-using towels and linens.
The Department of Water and Power (DWP) has distributed placards to 4,200 restaurants and 900 hotels to explain the restrictions to customers.
Under the ordinance which also limits how and when Angelenos can use water outdoors, residents are prohibited from watering their lawns between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and from watering more than15 minutes a day.
The previous ordinance, passed in 1990, banned outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from April 1 to Sept. 30 and between 11a.m. and 3 p.m. from Oct. 1 to March 31.
"L.A.'s future depends on our willingness to adopt an ethic of conservation. These first steps represent the beginning of our march toward sustainability and success," Villaraigosa said.
Residents are also prohibited from using a hose to wash off paved surfaces and must use a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle when washing their cars.
Residents who violate the rules will receive a warning. For a second offense, they could be fined 100 dollars, which doubles the old fine of 50 dollars.
The fine for businesses that violate the rules quadrupled to 200 dollars. Repeat residential offenders can be fined up to 300 dollars and commercial customers up to 600 dollars.
"It is a blunt recognition that we face a water shortage in this city, and it is a visionary road map as to how we are going to provide for water supplies here in the city," said DWP General Manager David Nahai. "The water conservation ordinance aims to heighten awareness and it aims to change behavior."
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought on June 4. If the water situation worsens in the city of Los Angeles, the DWP could limit outdoor watering to Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The water restrictions and fines are part of the 20-year water conservation plan announced in May by the mayor and Nahai.
Source:Xinhua
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