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National Briefing | West

California: Water Wasters Could Be Fined $10,000

Gov. Jerry Brown of California on Tuesday called for $10,000 fines for residents and businesses that waste the most water as cities try to meet conservation mandates during the drought. The recommendation was part of a legislative proposal Mr. Brown said he would make to expand enforcement of water restrictions. He also said he was directing state agencies to speed environmental review of projects that increase would local water supplies. Mayors have complained that such projects have been delayed by red tape. Last summer, state regulators authorized $500 fines for outdoor water waste, but few cities have levied such high amounts. Many agencies have said they would rather educate customers than penalize them. Mr. Brown said that steep fines should still be a last resort and that “only the worst offenders” that continually violated water rules would be subject to $10,000 penalties.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Section A, Page 13 of the New York edition with the headline: California: Water Wasters Could Be Fined $10,000 . Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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