By Lance Williams and Katharine Mieszkowski.
Alarmed by a Reveal investigation, four Los Angeles city councilmen are demanding a crackdown on residents who are using millions of gallons of water per year during California’s crippling drought. In a motion set for hearing Wednesday, Councilman Paul Koretz asks the city’s Department of Water and Power to consider “imposing severe financial penalties” and even shutting off water service for the largest guzzlers.
Councilmen Mitch O’Farrell, David Ryu and Herb Wesson Jr. joined the motion. Koretz contends that using millions of gallons of water during the drought is “a slap in the face to neighbors who have heroically complied with austere water use measures” during the drought.
In an Oct. 1 story, Reveal reported that the 10 biggest known residential water customers in the state live in Bel Air, Beverly Hills and other exclusive neighborhoods in the city’s mansion-studded Westside neighborhood.
In the 12 months ending April 1, one Bel Air customer pumped 11.8 million gallons of water, Reveal reported. That’s enough for 90 families.
[divider] [/divider]