A business that continually violated four landscape irrigation violations earned the Long Beach Water Department's first water fine this week, the utility said Friday.
The business was charged $800 for the violations, identified through smart meter technology. It comes as California enters its fourth year of drought and the state plans to tighten water restrictions.
“California needs to take greater measures to ensure water conservation and that means moving into the enforcement stage of water restrictions,” said Harry Saltzgaver, president of the Board of Water Commissioners, in a statement.
Last week, California's water control board expanded water-use restrictions, requiring restaurants stop serving patrons water unless they ask for it and barring certain kinds of outdoor water uses. All but two percent of California was experiencing at least a moderate drought this week, affecting 37 million people, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Long Beach water didn't name the business that was cited. The city's water restrictions can be found here: www.lbwater.org/water-use-prohibitions
