Stricter water limits in offing if L.A. goals unmet

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles water officials approved new watering restrictions Thursday that could be imposed if the city’s conservation efforts flag in the coming summer months.

Residents could be required to cover their swimming pools or limit their watering to two days a week rather than three under revised drought restrictions unanimously approved by the five-member Board of Water and Power Commissioners.

If approved by the City Council, the changes also would ban outdoor watering for 48 hours after it rains, slap time limits on sprinkler watering depending on the type of nozzle used, and prohibit residents from using potable water to fill fountains or ponds.

Officials stressed that Angelenos have responded to calls for conservation and that the city remains on track to meet water-use reduction targets set by both Mayor Eric Garcetti and Gov. Jerry Brown. The restrictions aim to give the city more flexibility to phase in tougher water-saving measures, but residents are unlikely to see major changes anytime soon.