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Drought: A new way to snitch on water wasters, brought to you by the state of California
All reports are anonymous, so you can feel good about snitching to the state on water wasters.
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Drought: A new way to snitch on water wasters, brought to you by the state of California
Around 29,000 Californians reported water waste in May as a result of the ongoing drought, and now the State Water Resources Control Board is trying to make snitching even easier — with a new SaveWater website.
True, you can already rat out water hogs in some Southern California cities. (In Los Angeles, you can call 3-1-1 or email waterwaste@lacity.org, for example.) But the new site permits drought shaming efforts everywhere. Optimized for your smartphone, it allows you to enter the location and the problem – even add a photo – and the state will make sure the report goes to the right local agency.
At water board meetings, regulators have noted a request for this kind of a snitch hotline since last year; now more than 300 local water suppliers are on board. Water board chair Felicia Marcus says it’s time for wider water waste reporting because with the prospect of a fifth year of drought, even if there’s an El Niño – every drop counts.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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