New Outdoor Water Restrictions: What You Need to Know

The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a weekly “green tip” to our readers. This week’s tip was written by Sheda Morshed and Ryan Craig.

California is in a severe and historically unprecedented drought. And while our taps are still flowing, Pacific Palisades uses more water per capita than many other areas of our city and state. That’s why Resilient Palisades will be devoting this month’s Green Tips to steps each and every one of us can take to help conserve water.

We begin with the city’s new outdoor watering restrictions that went into effect June 1. Here’s what you and your gardener need to know: Outdoor watering is limited to two days per week, with the below restrictions:

No outdoor watering between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. This will reduce water loss due to evaporation.

All sprinklers are limited to a maximum of eight minutes per station.

Odd street numbers can water on Mondays and Fridays; even-numbered addresses can water Thursdays and Sundays.

Failure to comply will result in a warning followed by escalating fines for each subsequent violation.

So here are a few tips on how to turn your thirsty garden into a drought-tolerant beauty:

Replace lawns with California native grasses (e.g., Carex pansa, Thymus praecox arcticus, Festuca rubra and Agrostis pallens), CA native or low-water flowers, and other drought-tolerant plants or trees. Did you know you can receive up to $15,000 for replacing your water-wasting lawn? Apply through LADWP at 

Speak with your gardener or HOA about using brooms, rakes or electric blowers on hard surfaces but never water. Did you know that 10 minutes of a hose at full blast wastes 40 gallons of water? Large homes or condo/apartment complexes can waste a multiple of that every day.

Use organic mulch in all flowerbeds to reduce evaporation and create healthy soil.

Consider a greywater system to recycle used indoor water in your garden. For more information, visit greywatercorps.com.

Always avoid artificial turf (it’s plastic!) and try to reduce use of gravel. These options increase ambient temperatures and kill healthy soil that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

See something, say something. Do your part and report water waste by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397) or using the MyLA311 phone app.