Santa Barbara City Council Considers More Water Restrictions

The Santa Barbara City Council is taking it slow when it comes to adding water restrictions and regulations to new developments.

Development makes up just 1 percent of its water usage during the drought.

Even so, Water Resources Manager Joshua Haggmark said the city must prepare for the worst.

He said the drought won’t come to an end until reservoirs “fill and spill.”

The city council voted to instruct staff to come back in February with specific restriction plans like banning new pools and deferring landscaping.

The city will be getting updates about rainfall totals monthly until restriction votes are taken.

The city will be able to delay a vote to restart its desalination plant if storm deliver enough rain.,