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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.
America’s Vulnerable Water Systems
Paying the Price: Siemens and other corporations vowed to fix water woes in Mississippi and save cities across the state millions. The deals racked up debt instead, leaving many worse off than before.
A Tax on Groundwater: While American farmers elsewhere can freely pump the water beneath their land, growers in California’s Pajaro Valley pay hefty fees. Experts say the approach is a case study in how to save a vital resource.
A Diet Feeding a Crisis: America’s dietary shift toward far more chicken and cheese in recent decades has taken a major toll on underground water supplies.
First Come, First Served?: As the world warms, California is re-examining claims to its water that are based on a cherished frontier principle and have gone unchallenged for generations.
Jets Powered by Corn: America’s airlines want to replace jet fuel with ethanol to fight global warming. That would require lots of corn, and lots of water.
Blocking Change: Groundwater is dwindling in much of the United States, but only a powerful few have a say over its use. Meet the people fighting conservation efforts.
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