Clovis Residents Must Reduce Water Use by 36 Percent or Be Fined

The Clovis City Council approved emergency water mandates Monday night, requiring Clovis water customers to drastically cut their water usage.

Effective May 1, Clovis residents will have to reduce their water use by 36 percent compared to 2013 (same billing cycle), or be fined.

Earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown mandated a 25 percent reduction in water statewide; but some cities, including Clovis, were identified as high water users, and ordered to reduce by more.

Public Utilities Director Luke Serpa said these are aggressive measures that he feels the city is being forced to take in order to meet the state’s demands.

Those who use recycled water and low water users who fall below the baseline will be exempt, Serpa said.

For a single-family residence, the baseline is 10,000 gallons per billing cycle, which is every two months.

Those who do not comply will have to pay a fine.

The penalties vary. For single-family and multi-family residences, the fines range from $ 25 to $ 50. For schools, they range from $ 695 to $ 1,000.

The fines will be reduced for those who use below a certain percentage of water.

Outdoor watering days have also been reduced from three days a week to two days.

Serpa said they are not happy to have to make these mandates.

"Watering only two days a week is going to save a certain amount–that’s not going to be enough to get you to the 36 percent. There’s going to have to be other significant cuts. And this isn’t, again–we’re not doing this because we’re out of water. We can meet full demand. We can supply the water. This is a state mandated cut," Serpa said.

During the city council meeting, many residents spoke out saying they felt 36 percent was too drastic.

"I’ve had it. And I’m mad as hell," said one Clovis resident.

A few residents spoke in support of the water conservation efforts.

"We have to do it. And whining about it won’t help. Do it. Let your lawn go brown. I did mine," said another Clovis resident.

The state will begin monitoring the City’s usage in June. If the City doesn’t meet the reduction goal, it could be fined up to $ 10,000 per day.

The City will be modifying its billing system to show customers their past usage and their goal so that they know by how many gallons they have to reduce their water use. 

They City will also be offering free water audits and help to their customers with reading their water bills.