California OKs $500 fines for wasting water

[Bob Of Burleson]

USAtoday.com

California water regulators Tuesday approved fines for washing cars, watering lawns or hosing down sidewalks after revised figures showed that residents have increased consumption despite calls for big cutbacks amid the state's severe drought.

They are the first emergency conservation measures passed to try to force Californians to wake up to the three-year-long dry spell, the worst in decades.

Though Gov. Jerry Brown had urged a voluntary 20% reduction in water use, figures released last month indicated a drop of only 5% statewide for the year. But the State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday updated the monthly survey from water districts to show that consumption had increased 1% in May compared with a year ago.

Based on the initial figures, the board last week proposed banning watering lawns, washing cars or sidewalks and running fountains, with violators facing fines up to $500 a day. On Tuesday evening, the board adopted those measures. Police will have the authority to ticket water-wasters.

"Not everybody in California understands how bad this drought is ... and how bad it could be," Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus told the Associated Press before the vote. "There are communities in danger of running out of water all over the state."

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[GFB]

Sorry, my lawn is going to stay green and lush.

This is why I started having my sprinklers go off at 2 am.

[grouchy]

Figures.

[John In Austin]

I would go out of my way to waste water just to piss off an environmentalist.

[planosteve]

I went through one drought in Northern Callie in the 70's. Had a complete watering ban for 2 years. I learned how to wash my car in a bucket of water and syphon the water out of the washer to keep the bushes alive.

[GFB]

It's just all stupid.

It hasn't rained for 6 months, which is entirely normal for this part of the country.

That's not how we get our water.

[GFB]

I would go out of my way to waste water just to piss off an environmentalist.

We are asked here, even when there is no "drought"..to water our lawns once a week in the winter and twice a week in the summer.

You can tell all the people that comply..their lawns are brown.

You must water EVERY day here, for 15 minutes minimum..to have a green lawn.

When I get a brown spot, I take hostages.