California agencies seek 'water cops'

[Hum]

Hosing down a driveway in drought-stricken California could soon mean a visit from the "water cops," as agencies throughout the state begin beefing up staff to enforce strict new conservation rules set to take effect next month.

The water district serving the state's Silicon Valley tech hub is considering spending half a million dollars on enforcement agents. Los Angeles' water utility said it would also be hiring more people to investigate reports that residents are wasting water.

"Our members are up to their ears in reports that people are wasting water," said Marty Grimes, a spokesman for the Santa Clara County Water District, which sells water to public utilities and municipalities in Silicon Valley.

California is in its third year of a devastating drought that is expected to cost its economy $2.2 billion in lost crops, jobs and other damage. Last week, state regulators approved sweeping new restrictions on outdoor water use that allow cities and local water districts to impose fines on violators.

The new regulations prohibit washing a car with a hose that does not have a shutoff valve, watering the lawn more than twice a week and washing down streets and sidewalks.

If as expected, the Santa Clara district's board of directors on Tuesday night approves hiring enforcement staff, popularly known as "water cops," the district would make the new employees available to individual cities or public utilities within the region to investigate allegations - often from neighbors - that people are violating conservation rules.

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[macoman]

California is always having some kind of Crisis, when is not the state budget crisis, then is the water crisis or an Earthquake or a Fire without control. Jeeeez poor Californians.

[Hum]

Unbelievable. :rolleyes:

 

Water shortage in the 21st century, in a state with a small body of water right next to it -- otherwise known as the Pacific Ocean.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Why the hell are people hosing down their driveway?

 

 

watering the lawn more than twice a week and washing down streets and sidewalks.

 

It must not be THAT bad if they are still allowing people to water their ######ing lawns once a week!

[Hum]

^ Probably washing away mud, leaves, grass clippings.

 

I save some of the waste water from my sinks to water plants outside, shortages or not.

[Mr. Gibs]

watering the lawn more than twice a week and washing down streets and sidewalks.

Yup sounds about right. "Oh ###### we're in a severe drought but we still need to water our lawns"