'We're being over penalized': California's new water limits upset the wealthy

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California fights the drought with increasingly strict new restrictions.

Residents in the wealthier suburbs of California face heavy water limits implemented by the state to suffice the drought. Water rationing will start on July 1 for the first time in the wealthy areas. Ultra-rich residents are complaining about the seemingly tougher restrictions in their area, including that of the homes in Rancho Santa Fe.

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Highlights

By Hannah Marfil (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
6/17/2015 (8 years ago)

Published in U.S.

Keywords: California, Drought, Water, Consumption, Regulation, The Ultra-Wealthy, Rancho Santa Fe. Refusal

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "We pay significant property taxes based on where we live. And, no, we're not all equal when it comes to water," said one of the residents, Steve Yuhas, during an interview cited by the Washington Post.

Rancho Santa Fe is one of the state's wealthiest residential areas, boasting its gated communities, ranches and golf clubs, which they are allegedly paying for with an immense amount of taxes.

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After Gov. Jerry Brown (D) called for 25 percent water use reduction in April, the area reportedly had an increase in consumption by 9 percent.

However, with the new regulations, the ultra-wealthy cannot have a larger amount of water use, as all will be dependent on the determined amount for their indoor use. Outdoor additional usages for sprinklers and swimming pools will be cut down into half to meet other needs within the state.

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With some residents not faltered by the financial sanctions, the Santa Fe Irrigation District is prepared to take desperate measures, including installation of restriction filters and shutting down the residents tap altogether.

These measures implemented on the wealthier side are perceived negatively by the residents.

"I think we're being overly penalized, and we're certainly being overly scrutinized by the world," said an interior designer, Gay Butler, who said that her water bill's average is up to $800. "It angers me because people aren't looking at the overall picture. What are we supposed to do, just have dirt around our house on four acres?"

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