My friends in California say nobody was really taking it seriously, so I’m glad they imposed the fine:
It will now be considered a criminal act to waste water in California.
On Tuesday, amid evidence that existing conservation measures are not working, the State Water Resources Control Board took the unprecedented step to declare certain types of water waste a criminal infraction similar to a speeding violation. The move means that certain types of water waste – allowing landscape watering to spill into streets, hosing off sidewalks and driveways – can be subject to fines of $500 per day.
Californians as a whole have failed to conserve water during the worst drought in a generation, according to data reviewed by the board at its meeting in Sacramento.
The state as a whole consumed 1 percent more water in May compared to a three-year average of the same month from 2011 to 2013, according to a recent survey of 276 water agencies representing about two-thirds of all California residents.
Behavior modification. Taxes and fines play a big roll. “Yellow is mellow. Brown is down.” Coming soon to a comunity near you.
Some goo links here, including a relatively long-form piece that circulated around yesterday.
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/07/15/california-mandatory-water-restrictions-desert/12707861/
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/07/12/nestle-arrowhead-tapping-water/12589267/
I’m going to take a SWAG that push will come to shove on the Nestle story.
I lived there for a couple years. When they had the recall election and overwhelmingly elected Arnold blacksnout governor, I pretty much realized things are not going to end well for that state. Although it looks like things are not going to end well for any part of the US, and I predict Canada and even Sweden which seemed so civilized will turn on a dime and follow the rest of us over a cliff.
Oh, and yeah, of course people are consuming more water this year. It’s a drought, so there is less rain for your yard, so even to keep the trees and valued shrubs alive, you gotta water more than you would in less dry years, even if you let the lawn die.