Among the bills Governor Brown has already signed into law is one that requires more punitive policies toward water wasters. It would apply only when a drought emergency is declared, which was not declared statewide this year. Districts must set a definition of “excessive water use” during that time and then fine customers up to 500 dollars for each hundred cubic feet above the limit. Nevada Irrigation District General Manager Rem Scherzinger says they already have such a policy in place, which has never been imposed here. But he says he’s more concerned about the possibility of also having to increase utility bills for excessive users…

click to listen to Rem Scherzinger

Scherzinger also doesn’t like the new law applying only to residential customers and not the largest users in the commercial, industrial, and agriculture industries…

click to listen to Rem Scherzinger

The new law is based on a policy that’s only been applied by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, where the names of high-profile and well-known water wasters were also publicized. Disclosure of names would be optional, under the new law, and no other districts have ever done that.