Glendale Lifts Restrictions

Citing reservoirs that have been engorged with above-average rainfall, Glendale became the latest city to lift mandatory irrigation restrictions, although officials appealed to residents to keep conserving. This comes as good news for landscape contractors and maintenance professionals. However, residents will still be required to adhere to water waste rules, including a ban on outdoor watering during daytime hours and the washing down of driveways.

The City Council on Tuesday lifted the nearly two-year-old mandatory water conservation rules that had restricted outdoor watering to three days a week in 2009 to ensure Glendale Water & Power stayed within strict limits imposed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

But in the wake of Metropolitan's decision last month to stop rationing water to its member agencies, Glendale officials on Tuesday recommended that the local restrictions be lifted.

''Things have changed very rapidly,'' Assistant General Manager Peter Kavounas said. ''It's been a long wet winter.''

The city follows actions in Burbank, Pasadena and Crescenta Valley, where water agencies have also returned to voluntary conservation measures.