Pasadena city officials are upping their efforts to stifle California's record drought by restricting property owners to water outdoors only one day a week starting next month.
The city's Level 1 Water Supply Shortage Plan that took effect in July restricted outdoor irrigation, such as watering landscape with sprinklers or any automated water system, to three days a week.
Starting on Nov. 1, outdoor irrigation will be limited to one day a week, either on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays.
"The community has been really receptive, and you can see that with the amount of water we’ve saved," said Wendy De Leon, Pasadena Water and Power spokeswoman.
But some residents aren't too happy with the new rules.
"I feel that we're getting more and more restricted and our personal rights are being taken away," Laura Yeghnazar said. "I think we're going a little too far and I think each homeowner should have the right to decide how much water they want to use and pay the cost accordingly."
Residents will still be able to wash their cars, but only if using a handheld container or a hose with a shut-off nozzle, officials said. No outdoor irrigation will be allowed between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and all water leaks must also be fixed within 72 hours.
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The biggest usage of water is landscape watering, De Leon. By regulating this, the city hopes to move closer to the 20 percent water use reduction goal the state has asked cities to reach.
Another resident is concerned about what will happen to his lawn.
"It looks like my lawn is ready to pass away, if I'm only going to be able to water once a week because I don't see any sign of rain," Pasadena resident Tony Annunziata said.
Pasadena has so far reached a 10 percent reduction of water use in the few months the water savings plan took effect, De Leon said.
Once-a-week watering will only be enforced during the fall and winter months. Property owners will be able to water three days a week again starting April 1 through Oct. 31.
People can flag water waste through the Pasadena Citizen Service Center. Fines can reach up to $500 per violation for residential customers, while business owners can be fined up to $1,000 for each offense.
Ted Chen contributed to this report.
