Drought restrictions
In response to California’s persistent drought conditions, the Manhattan Beach City Council this week declared a Stage 2 Water Shortage and imposed drought restrictions in accordance with the emergency water conservation regulations enacted by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Effective immediately, Manhattan Beach households are limited to watering lawns and landscapes two days per week for no more than 15 minutes per watering cycle, between 6 p.m.on Wednesday and 9 a.m. the following Thursday, and between 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. the following Sunday. Under state regulations, commercial, industrial, and institutional sites are also prohibited from watering “non-functional turf,” grass that is ornamental and not used for recreation and community events.
“California’s intense drought is a major concern to the City and the State,” said Mayor Steve Napolitano. “Reducing water use is a shared responsibility. Drought is no longer an exception, but appears to be the rule going forward in California. Now, more than ever, we all must do our part to reduce our water usage in an effort to conserve one of our most precious resources.”
While the vast majority of turf in the City’s parks and green spaces is irrigated with recycled water and is not impacted by the current emergency regulations, the City has turned off all irrigation valves where potable water is currently used for watering non-functional turf. These locations are: the four medians on Manhattan Beach Boulevard (includes the Liberty Village parcel located on the NE corner of MBB and Redondo Avenue); 1426 8th Street (Interior of Block 35 Water Site); 4500 Ocean Drive (North City Limits adjacent to the Bike Trail).
The grass at these locations is anticipated to dry out and ultimately die over the coming weeks. Drip irrigation, however, will be installed around the trees at these sites to ensure the continued health of the City’s tree canopy. Additionally, the City is working with West Basin Municipal Water District, the City’s primary water supplier, to obtain rebates to convert these areas to drought-tolerant landscaping. ER
