The city of San Diego is issuing its first three $100 fines today to people who’ve repeatedly violated water-use restrictions that went into effect in June.
Luis Generoso, the city’s water resources manager, said the fines are being issued to at least one residence and one business, though he didn’t know how the penalties broke down among them.
The city in June began limiting irrigation to 10-minute cycles on specified days of the week as part of an effort to meet an 8 percent reduction in supplies.
The city has received 2,500 complaints since June, Generoso said, and referred to code compliance officers 31 repeat offenders who’ve received at least three complaints.
Generoso and Mayor Jerry Sanders said the city continues to emphasize education, not punitive measures, in its enforcement efforts. But the unspecified trio is being fined, Generoso said, because “the educational part is not working with them.”
Citywide water use has dropped along with the region. San Diego’s overall water use is down 11 percent comparing this August with last. The city government, the largest consumer in San Diego, cut its use 9 percent in that time. It maintains numerous parks and golf courses.