Poll: Mixed views on water waste regulations

Compared to the rest of California, Petaluma is doing more than the average city to conserve water during the state’s massive drought. Gov. Jerry Brown asked for a 20 percent reduction in water usage, and Petaluma has consistently met that goal. However, a new state law allows cities to levy higher fines against those who waste water. A slight majority of those that took part in this week’s unofficial online poll said the city should do more to deter residents from wasting water. Here were some of the comments:

“What is needed is an immediate water hook-up moratorium. You can build anything you want, but there will be no water or waste hook-up until the drought is over.”

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“Yes. This drought is serious. Any household with an unusually high water bill should be audited.”

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“The average family can easily make it on 5 hundred cubic feet (hcf) per month, After that they should be heavily surcharged, The average person will learn to save. The wealthy can keep wasting and pay for bottled water when or if we need it.”

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“The city should be enforcing water usage so that we all have enough. There are a few neighborhoods in Petaluma that have perfect, green lawns, which is practically obscene when it hasn’t rained.”

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“The city should stop approving hundreds of new housing units before worrying about a few water wasters.”

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“Minimally, the city should lead by curtailing watering at public parks and other city facilities.”

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“Increase storage capacity and fix the leaking delivery system first. Requiring the consumer to shoulder the burden without any effort from the city is hypocritical.”

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“I don’t think the water department has enough personnel for enforcement. The police department should be empowered and directed to cite homeowners, HOAs and businesses for water waste, such as sprinklers that run into the gutters.”

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“I’m more curious about why state officials waited until now to impose strict rules and fines on water wasters. Everyone’s known about this drought since at least January, but they don’t take serious action about it until summer is almost over?”

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“For starters, the city should set a good example. Drive around at night and see how much water is running off in the city-controlled areas.”

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“During a drought, lawns shouldn’t be watered at all. They are purely ornamental. Flowers are needed by pollinators, so I can understand allowing some water for them, but that could be done with grey water.”

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“This include stopping our developer-friendly city council from approving new housing projects that will result in every one of us already here having less water to use.”