LB Parks & Rec Will Cease Using Potable Water To Water Ornamental Street Medians (Per Governor's Executive Order) But City Golf Courses Should Remain Green Since They Use Reclaimed Water

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(April 3, 2015) -- Responding to an inquiry by LBREPORT.com, LB's Parks & Rec Department indicates has indicated it will comply with the relevant portion of Governor Brown's Executive Order mandating a 25% reduction in potable water consumption statewide (full text click here.) that specified [Executive Order text]: "The Water Board [State Water Resources Control Board] shall prohibit irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public street medians."

LB Parks & Rec spokesperson Jane Grobaty says in a quick email to LBREPORT.com that the Department will comply with the 25% reduction in potable water use. Ms. Grobaty also notes that City of Long Beach golf courses are irrigated with reclaimed water, which isn't under the restriction.

As to street medians: "The Department will cease to irrigate street medians containing ornamental turf with potable water."

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So...will the Dept. wait for the state agency to issue its order or will Parks & Rec cease its watering now? That's not clear yet; Parks and Rec staff are in the process of assessing the timeline.

And no one has said at this point if some alternative method may be feasible and developed to use non-potable water on some street medians.

We'll continue to follow this story as it develops.