There is a more honest way to tackle the issue of the water shortages in S. California - a real issue - and that is simply to greatly raise the water fees the municipal water systems charge. Supply is NOT meeting demand, so raise the price until it does. If the price is right, people will, on their own, cut off the sprinklers before the bath or toilet.
But no; the politicians want water to be both priced-cheap (popular but stupid) AND highly supply-regulated, so that everyone knows they, the politicians, not supply and demand, are “fixing” the problem. /sarc
Not to mention use God’s own (men anyway) and leave the sprinklers on.
While I admire your economic stance, raising the rates for everyone for every drop of water consumed seems unreasonable. The poor & those on fixed incomes suffer, while the rich waste water with abandon. Access to clean affordable (essentially free) water is a foundation of modern society dating back to before the Romans.
California is in a drought. Water must be conserved or many will go without.
People need a certain amount to eat, bathe, & crap. All other water usage is mostly optional. In times of drought, the lawns & cars should be secondary to basic human needs.
I do believe the water cops are a stupid waste. A better idea, I believe, would be to impose tiered pricing on residential customers. The first X number of gallons would be at a lower rate per gallon than any excess usage. This would accommodate customers’ basic needs, while allowing those who water their yard to avoid the police state.
Poor people not bathing & crapping in the back yard to save money is not the solution. They proved that 2000 years ago.
Imagine being on a lifeboat with a limited supply of water. Should the water be shared equally, or should the rich guy be able to bathe while the others die of thirst?