Watch California Water Cop Patrol for Wasters in Drought-Stricken State
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ABC News(LOS ANGELES) — Save water or face the consequences: That’s Rick Silva’s message to the Los Angeles communities he patrols.
Silva is a water cop, or more formally a water conservation supervisor with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
ABC News followed Silva around recently to get a feel for what it’s like patrolling the community for water wasters.
“We want to get the idea [out there] that you don’t need a green lawn for your house to look good,” Silva said. “See this home here took out their lawn completely and put in decomposed granite.”
Californians have been facing more water restrictions since Gov. Jerry Brown ordered mandatory water conservation measures on April 1 because of the state’s severe drought.
For the first time in California’s history, measures were implemented across the state in an effort to cut back on water use by 25 percent.
Silva’s job is to patrol the neighborhood and make sure residents are only watering during the appropriate days and hours. He says he likes talking to people in person at their front door.
“I prefer for them to be home. I’d rather keep it conversational,” Silva said. “We find that’s very effective, no need to be confrontational.”
The first warning for a resident misusing water is verbal, Silva said. The second warning is a $100 fine, the third warning is a $200 fine and it continues from there.
“We try to educate people,” Silva said. “Some changes may seem small, like turning off the water when you brush your teeth, but when you get a million people doing that it makes a difference.”
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