U.S. Water News Online
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -- Even residents who live next to the nation's largest alpine lake face water restrictions.
The South Tahoe Public Utility District is sending its education officers to neighborhoods to remind customers of the permanent rules that have been in place for more than three years.
South shore customers at even-numbered addresses can only water on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Those at odd-numbered addresses must limit watering to Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Watering is limited to one hour.
The water ordinance is designed to be educational rather than punitive, district spokesman Dennis Cocking said.
The district sends two education officers out daily to remind about 17,000 residential and business customers of the rules.
First-time violators receive a brochure explaining the rules. A second visit by officers is considered a violation, but no fine is given.
Imposed. Only a third visit will result in a $100 fine to residents and a $500 fine to businesses.
While residential fines can go as high as $500, Cocking said he's unaware of any that high ever being imposed.
Tahoe's soil is mostly made up of decomposed granite and water flows right through it, making watering for long periods of time unnecessary, Cocking told the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
The utility district considered new water conservation rules a few years ago when MTBE, a fuel additive, contaminated 12 of its 34 wells and sharply reduced its production capacity.
Officials met with residents, most of whom wanted a consistent plan that did not change year to year.
The district has since drilled new wells and restored some of its lost capacity.
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