The greenest lawn in El Monte may well be the patch of grass in front of City Hall.
At a time when state water officials are urging residents to allow their lawns fade to gold or offering rebates to tear them out, El Monte's city-operated water utility has yet to reduce the number of days residents can water because of severe drought.
While three other water agencies that serve portions of the San Gabriel Valley city have limited lawn watering to just two days a week — shriveling grass and saving water in the process — El Monte's municipal water operation has been listed among the six worst-conserving suppliers in the state.