Legislation designed to crack down even harder on water wasters is opposed by a number or providers, including the Nevada Irrigation District. A bill introduced by San Mateo State Senator Jerry Hill would require local districts to set a definition of excessive water use and establish fines for each hundred cubic feet above that limit, when the state is under a drought emergency. But NID General Manager Rem Scherzinger says it should be up to individual districts as to whether they need to establish such policies…

click to listen to Rem Scherzinger

Scherzinger says it’s not appropriate for the state to mandate that water providers take a more punitive approach…

click to listen to Rem Scherzinger

Scherzinger says they have never fined any NID customers. The bill would also authorize water entities to release the names, addresses, and water usage of those who violate the use limit. It’s modeled on a highly-publicized policy implemented by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, which released names of prominent water wasters last year, including the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics. Scherzinger says he doesn’t believe in, quote, “shaming” customers into conserving.