About 60 urban water districts — faced with a statewide population increase of 9 million people over 20 years, diminishing shipments from the State Water Project and federal environmental court decisions protecting fish species native to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region — have enacted mandatory water rationing, up from a half-dozen last year.
The first stage in Burbank banned outdoor watering between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with some hand watering allowed.
It also tacked on a series of additional mandatory practices including the prohibition of outdoor water use for landscaped areas during, and at least two days after, rain.
Councilman Dave Golonski turned his attention to the issue of brown lawns, agreeing with utility officials that a three-day watering schedule provided at least 50% more water to residents than more restrictive policies in Los Angeles and the Crescenta Valley.
