Olivehurst Utility District Cracking Down On Water Waste In Drought
OLIVEHURST (CBS13) — Olivehurst city leaders will impose penalties starting at $25 for customers who aren't conserving in the fourth year of California's drought.
The Olivehurst Public Utility District will be checking meters, and if a home uses more than 26 units of water, they face a penalty.
OPUD General Manager Tim Shaw says they have no choice.
"We've had restrictions on watering days for over a year, but we're not getting to the desired conservation and the state's turning up the heat," he said.
He's referring to the state's mandate that the water district cut its usage by 36 percent, or it faces a $10,000 a day fine. He admits, this is a strict approach.
"In our immediate vicinity, we're the only ones that we know of that are taking this approach," he said.
OPUD will read the meters from June 1 to June 30. Households that use 26 units of water or less will not be penalized. Those that used between 27 and 45 units will be hit with a $25 fine. Those who use more than 45 units will have to pay a $60 penalty.
Businesses and schools will also have to reduce their water usage by 24 percent.
