No More Hosing, Unless You've Got a Water Broom

Yes, lazily hosing down your sidewalk instead of using a broom is now illegal, thanks to a recent water conservation passed by the city last month. Since then the DWP has been sending out weekly tips and today was about the hosing.

"As much as 150 gallons of water are used every time someone washes down a driveway, sidewalk, walkway or parking area, leading to gross amounts of wasted drinking water each time," wrote the DWP in an e-mail statement. "It not only is a good practice to use a broom instead of a hose - in Los Angeles it is now the law." The fines range between $100 and $600 depending upon the size of their meter.

However, there is one type of hose you can use called a water broom (pictured in this post). It uses as little as 2 gallons per minute instead of the 8 to 18 a regular hose uses. At over $200, it costs a pretty penny, but the Metropolitan Water District has a rebate program shaving off $150.