Discovery Bay prepares for dramatic water cuts

DISCOVERY BAY, Calif. (KGO) -- The state water board is poised to finalize its drought plan on Tuesday. It's one that will require water districts throughout California to make some dramatic cutbacks.

Though they do dispute the current numbers, Discovery Bay leaders admit their residents simply use too much water. Part of the problem may be perception. So many of the homes there are right on the water, so it's hard for some folks to imagine there isn't enough of it.

"We are unfortunately in the top tier at 36 percent, according to the state numbers," said Discovery Bay General Manager Rick Howard.

Howard is well aware that his waterfront community doesn't look good when it comes to water consumption.

"We're currently listed at 276 gallons per capita per day," he said.

But Discovery Bay is among more than 100 districts in California asking the state to take a second look at its data. In Discovery Bay, town leaders argue the current number don't take into account population growth.

"And our new revised number would be 193," Howard said.

Still, this Discovery Bay will be required to conserve more than 30 percent when the state finalizes its drought plan Tuesday.

"We're looking at about $10,000 a day if we don't meet their requirements," said Bill Prease with the Discovery Bay Board of Directors. "So the board is taking a real aggressive action."

That includes distributing signs restricting outside watering to two days week, with each home assigned an odd or even day and installing water meters in the hundreds of older homes that currently don't have them.

And unlike other districts there will be strict enforcement, including fines of up to $500 per day for those who don't comply.

For water rebate information from Bay Area water suppliers, click here. And click here for tips on how to conserve. To learn more about how to report water wasters #WhereYouLive, click here.

For full coverage on the drought, click here.