Limit water use

Homeowners and businesses in Laguna Beach are being asked not to

water their lawns and gardens from Monday through Friday, March 11

while repairs are made to a water treatment plant.

The Laguna Beach County Water District and South Coast Water

District -- both of which serve Laguna Beach -- are asking customers

to practice water conservation during the planned shutdown of the

Diemer Filtration Plant in Yorba Linda, which supplies both agencies

with water.

The plant is owned by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern

California, and will undergo a series of improvements to ensure

operational reliability and safeguard water-storage capabilities.

“We want to make sure that we can continue to meet demand,” said

Renae Hinchey, general manager of the Laguna Beach County Water

District. “Residents can help by suspending outdoor irrigation for

five days.”

More than 50% of the drinking water in Laguna Beach is used to

water lawns and landscaping, she said. With above-average rainfall

this season, landscaping experts believe that lawns can easily go

five days without water, thereby preserving the water for human

consumption.

“All water agencies in Orange County are working together to meet

customer demand region-wide during the plant shutdown,” said Mike

Dunbar, general manager of the South Coast Water District.

Reservoir water storage is expected to meet demand, but the water

agencies want to ensure that water supply is reliable by reducing

water demand overall, Dunbar said.

For more information, call (949) 494-1041.