By Teri Kahn
In terms of water use, Brentwood 90049 is among the most egregious water wasters in all of Los Angeles County. We waste more water per capita than any other community and more than half of it is used on our landscaping – a beautiful but mostly non-essential use of water.
On April 1, Governor Jerry Brown issued a directive that mandated a 25 percent reduction in water use due to the drought, or the “new normal” as he put it.
“It’s a different world,” he said. “We have to act differently.”
What will it take to make us change? Last year Brown had asked for voluntary water reduction of 20 percent, but this netted little results. I expect that new cuts will be more specific, and that we may even see rationing of residential water. Perhaps people will pay attention when their water supply is cut off or their water bill is tripled; and it may take something that dramatic to get their attention.
Many in our community aren’t aware that they are supposed to water their lawns on certain days of the week. (FYI: Addresses ending in odd numbers on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Those with even numbers on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.) And few people are aware that the DWP offers generous rebates to exchange grass for low-water turf materials. (A homeowner can receive $3.75 per for every square foot of grass pulled out, at least until the money runs out.) Perhaps it is not only wise, but the ethical choice to make at this time.
Although each water agency in the State will be allowed to implement its own plan for water reduction, there are certain changes that we should expect in Brentwood. I would not be surprised to see the grass on San Vicente Boulevard replaced with drought-tolerant turf. And I will be thrilled the day that happens – we cannot continue to pretend that we are living in Connecticut. I would not be surprised to see fees and penalties for non-essential watering.
Yes, we have to change our gardens. Again, it is not only wise, but it is the ethical thing to do. In fact, as I drive through the streets of Brentwood these days I no longer think about how beautiful it is. Instead, I think about how wasteful it is.
Going forward, I know that some in our neighborhood will satisfy themselves with the fact that they are able to pay more money for the higher water charges and they will choose instead to keep their thirsty gardens. Speaking for myself, I view these homeowners as myopic and self-serving, taking more from the common resource that they are due. California water is very much a zero sum game, and we all need to do our part.
We can do better, 90049. We can do better.
