California hopes $500 fines will stop water wasters

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- California believes the threat of large fines may be enough to make more people think about water conservation during this ongoing drought.

Most of the proposed limitations are already in place in the Valley. But it's estimated two-thirds of the state's cities do not have mandatory water restrictions. The State Water Resources Control Board is considering statewide restrictions with fines up to $500 for violations.

Most Californians use more water outdoors on their lawns and landscape than indoors. New restrictions proposed by the Board prohibit wasting water through runoff while watering lawns and outdoor landscape, washing off driveways, using a hose to wash your car unless the hose has a shutoff nozzle, and using drinking water in a fountain unless the water is recirculated. Clovis Public Utilities Director Luke Serpa says most of those rules are already in place in the Valley.

"The restrictions they're looking at now shouldn't directly impact us," Serpa said. "What they're looking at is to try to get the communities that haven't implemented some mandatory restrictions to implement those."

Those who violate watering rules normally get a warning. Those who ignore the warning can get a $100 fine. The state board proposes a maximum $500 fine. It's not demanding you let your lawn go brown but stricter limitations could be added.

"And that is everything from watering maybe to once or twice a week," Director of Public Affairs for The State Water Resources Control Board George Kostyrko said. "Compared to perhaps if you are watering every day to maybe not washing your car in the driveway to going to a car wash where your water is recycled."

54% of the people in our exclusive Action News poll conducted by SurveyUSA support the proposed restrictions. 42% were opposed. The drought may also force the city of Fresno to adopt new water restrictions.

"We're obviously taking a look at things like what the state water board is presenting as a number of options that we might want to consider," Director of Communications for the city of Fresno Mark Standriff said. "That go up to and including implementing a two day a week watering restriction."

Of those surveyed 30% said the restrictions go too far, while 25% said they don't go far enough. The majority (39%) said they're just about right.

The state water resources control board will hold a public hearing July 15th in Sacramento.