In the spirit of becoming familiar with the locution of measured uses of water, Public Works Director Charles Herbertson said that after proposed community water rationing rules are approved, outdoor irrigation will be limited to mainly after-dark hours for one dominant reason:

“Much more evaporation occurs during the day.”

It remains unclear when the drought-caused watering hours tentatively announced last week by the Golden State Water Co.  – between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. two days a week, depending on whether a street address ends in an odd or even number – will become effective.

(Watering is Tuesdays and Saturdays for odd-numbered addresses, Wednesdays and Sundays for even-numbers.)

“When(ever) Stage 1 of rationing goes into effect,” said Mr. Herbertson, “Golden State will start measuring the overall water use of Culver City.

“If the 16 percent reduction target (ordered by the state) is not met, Golden State will be looking to move to Stage 2. That is when (excess water usage) will start costing people money.

“When(ever) Stage 2 begins, the outdoor irrigation limit still will be limited to two days a week.

“But here is the difference,” said the Public Works director. “Everybody will receive an allocation for water use. This will be a 16 percent reduction from the same month in 2013 with an eight CCF (centum cubic feet) minimum. (One CCF equals 100 cubic feet or 738 gallons.)

“Let’s say you used 20 CCF in July 2013. Now you have to have a 16 percent reduction from that,” Mr. Herbertson said. “If it was 20 CCF, you have to get down to 16.8.

“If your usage goes above that, for every CCF there will be a surcharge.”