Beverly Hills fined for wasteful treatment of water

California municipalities of Beverly Hills, Indio and Redlands are fined for water overdraft amid continuing drought in the state.

They violated the 2013 decree on reducing water consumption by 25 percent. Each of the municipalities received a fine of $ 61 thousand for non-compliance with standards for the use of water sources.

As the head of the state water control service, Chris Carrigan, said, on average, 169 gallons of water per person were spent in September in Beverly Hills. At the same time, residents of the largest city in the state - Los Angeles - used an average of 68 gallons. Carrigan blamed the wealthy citizens of Beverly Hills for spending too much water on “watering their lawns.”

Cheryl Fredling, a spokesman for the Beverly Hills authorities, said that too lavish residents would face personal fines.

One of the former townspeople, Richard Greeny, doubted the effectiveness of such measures against the city. According to him, a fine of $ 61 thousand "is too small for perhaps the richest city in the country, if not in the world." “This is pocket money for the majority of those living here,” he added.

The unprecedented seasonal drought has been recorded in California for the fourth year. While meteorologists explain drought by natural causes, politicians and community activists put forward alternative theories - waste among immigrants, herders, golf course owners and oilmen.

Previously, California authorities decide to drastically reduce water supply to farms due to the ongoing drought of the fourth year.