Santa Rosa imposes 20 percent mandatory water rationing

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Santa Rosa has become the largest North Bay city to follow new state guidelines requiring 20 percent mandatory water rationing. Residents were already cutting 16 percent there.

The utilities department has been receiving emails from concerned residents who are ratting out water wasters. Now those homeowners will get a notice, or worse.

"Door hangers, then a follow-up, then a letter, and we can turn their water off if we have to go that far," said David Guhin, Director of Santa Rosa Utilities.

Residents may now only irrigate at night and restaurant customers will receive water only upon request.

At Gaia's Garden restaurant, owner Susan Church doesn't think it's much of a hardship.

"Most people don't want it anyway. They're drinking something else," said Church.