The drought has prompted one South Coast City to adopt a total ban on lawn watering.
Santa Barbara residents will have to turn off their lawn sprinklers, and keep them off starting January first. There are some exceptions for things like trees, gardens, and shrubs, as well as for what are known as water-wise grasses. Fields used for recreation are exempted, as are golf greens.
City officials say even though they’ve obtained more state water, Santa Barbara no longer has reserves or a buffer next year, so further cuts in consumption are essential.