Mayor Says Water Rationing Probable by July 1 – Public Hearings Set

By Matthew T. Hall / Union-Tribune / January 28, 2009

SAN DIEGO – Water rationing probably will be imposed in San Diego by July 1, Mayor Jerry Sanders said yesterday.

The reduction would vary per household depending on factors including how much water is used for landscaping.

Sanders said residential and business customers alike would face “fairly significant penalties” for using too much water in the face of a drought and spring cutbacks expected from the wholesaler that provides water to the city. Sanders didn’t elaborate on what the penalties might be.

Water administrator Alex Ruiz said the rationing plan would try to take into account customers’ past conservation efforts and seek to distinguish between “discretionary” outdoor water uses and indoor uses, such as cooking and cleaning.

Sanders said few will welcome this.

“Setting those levels, you’re never going to make everybody happy, and in fact we’ll probably upset everybody to some extent,” he said.

Public hearings on the rationing are scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on these dates:

# Feb. 9, Otay Mesa-Nestor Branch Library, 3003 Coronado Ave.

# Feb. 10, Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library, 13330 Salmon River Road.

# Feb. 12, War Memorial Building, Room 3, in Balboa Park, 2125 Park Blvd.

The hearings will consist of city staff presentations and question-and-answer sessions.