Three Santa Clarita Valley water districts are accepting input from community members on proposed watering restrictions ahead of a vote by officials expected next week.

Newhall County Water, Valencia Water Co. and Santa Clarita Water Division officials are set to vote on proposed restrictions that would limit residents to watering their lawns on specific days three times per week during summer months and two times per week during winter months.

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“We’d be happy to have the public come and weigh in,” said B.J. Atkins, chairman of the board of directors at Newhall County Water. “We need to use our water resources locally as best we can and learn to ‘sip’ water– a euphemism for use less water.”

Community members are invited to attend Newhall County Water’s regular board meeting, which is “open to the public,” he said.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the district office’s boardroom, located at 23780 North Pine Street in Newhall.

Related Article: Santa Clarita Water Officials Draft Water Use Restrictions

Santa Clarita Water, a division of the Castaic Lake Water Agency, officials are holding a public hearing at their board meeting on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m.

“The actions we’re considering now are pretty similar, but not necessarily identical, to what are being adopted in other communities, cities and water districts throughout the state in response to the State Water Resources Control Board directive,” said Dan Masnada, CLWA’s general manager.

The meeting is scheduled in the boardroom of the CLWA administration building at 27234 Bouquet Canyon Road.

Valencia Water Co. officials are planning on voting over the telephone by the end of next week, but encourage residents from their district to attend a meeting Tuesday morning where representatives from all districts are expected to attend, said Keith Abercrombie, the company’s general manager.

“I would encourage our residents to participate in the meeting that’s being held by the Santa Clarita Valley Water Committee next Tuesday,” he said. “That’s an open meeting to the public, where the committee will be looking to vote on the proposed language and so forth as far as the various restrictions.”

The meeting is set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the CLWA’s offices, he said.

The proposed restrictions are part of a Water Action Plan drafted by Santa Clarita Valley Water Committee officials in an effort to comply with the state’s mandatory water restriction requirements issued as a result of prolonged drought conditions.

The draft states restrictions are “mandatory for residents and businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley,” and individuals who do not follow them will be issued two written warnings before fines of up to $500 are imposed.

“The goal here is not to collect fines for people that are not complying with the proposed actions,” said Masnada. “It’s about publicizing them and making sure people are aware and doing what they can to save water…in order to ensure that every time they turn on the tap, the water will continue to flow.”

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