It’s official. According to an email from Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s office that just appeared in my inbox:

The City Council voted 9-2 today to approve a tiered water rate

system in response to the state-wide drought that’s now into its third

year. The plan, which requires heavy-water-users to pay more than

water-misers, takes effect on June 1.

Los Angeles residents who use more than the allotted base amount of water will be charged 44% more for the amount they use over that level. Two months ago, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for drought-year pricing that decreases by 15% the amount of water that ratepayers can buy monthly at the lowest price tier.

So in effect, the less you use the less you pay.

This all comes on the heals of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California reducing water deliveries by 10% to the region.