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The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in Southern California declared a state of emergency last year.
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Since then, more than 2,000 residents have exceeded the district’s water budget by 150%, The LA Times reported.
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However, some celebrities in the area have exceeded their budget by more than 500%.
Comedian Kevin Hart, two of the Kardashian sisters, actor Sylvester Stallone and NBA player Dwayne Wade were among some of the biggest violators of their local water restrictions in Southern California as the state experiences its third year in a drought, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, which serves the affluent towns of the San Fernando Valley, including Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, issued “overrun notices” to more than 2,000 customers, The LA Times reported based on data obtained from the water supplier.
As of December 1, 2021, residents will receive this notification when they use more than 150% of their water budget more than four times, Mike McNutt, a spokesperson for the water district, told Insider.
But some celebrities accused of violating water restrictions have exceeded their budget by more than 500%.
A 26-acre property in Calabasas listed by Hart exceeded its budget by 519%, or 117,000 gallons, in June.
Two Hidden Hills properties associated with Kim Kardashian exceeded their budget by about 230,000 gallons, while a 1.86-acre estate near Calabasas that belonged to Kourtney Kardashian exceeded its budget by about 101,000 gallons.
A spokesperson for the Kardashians did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.
A Hidden Hills property listed under Wade and his wife, actor Gabrielle Union, recorded water usage in May that surpassed any customer, clocking in at 489,000 gallons. In June, the property used 90,000 gallons, exceeding the water budget by 1,400%.
In a statement to The LA Times, the couple said the use was caused by a problem with their pool and they are actively addressing the situation.
“We have done everything we can to rectify the situation and will go to great lengths to resolve the issue,” the couple told The LA Times. “We have replaced all parts of our pool system that (are) related to water flow and leakage in addition to converting to artificial grass and drought tolerant plants to reduce our water usage. We will continue to work with the city and the water distribution company to ensure this is implemented in the future isn’t a problem.”
A 2.26-acre estate in Hidden Hills owned by Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, exceeded its budget by 544%, or 230,000 gallons. This was an increase from May of about 195,000 gallons, The LA Times reported.
Stallone’s attorney, Marty Singer, told The LA Times that the numbers “misrepresent and misrepresent the water usage situation on my client’s property.” Singer pointed to the property’s “500 mature trees” that could die if not properly watered.
“My client has handled the situation in a responsible and proactive manner. They have had grasses die back and other areas are watered with a drip irrigation system. They have also notified the city of the mature trees and are awaiting an inspection and further instructions from them. the city on how to proceed,” the attorney wrote to The LA Times. “I am convinced that all the larger properties in the area have similar problems, so I trust that my client is not wrongly mentioned in the story because he is a famous person.”
Stallone’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Water budgets within the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District are tailored to each household. Factors considered include indoor and outdoor use and “special adaptations,” such as “medical needs” or “equestrian care,” says the district’s website.
Penalties not only include a surcharge on the water bill, but properties are also subject to the installation of a flow limiter by the third fine.
“What this restrictor does is it completely irradiates the functionality of your irrigation system,” McNutt said, adding that 70% of water usage comes from landscaping.
According to McNutt, approximately 7.3% of the district’s customer base is on a list to receive the restrictor device. But due to the lack of resources, the district installs 20 devices a week and starts at the top with the “most egregious water users.”
The Golden State is in its third year of drought
Currently, most of California is experiencing at least “severe drought” conditions, indicating fire season will be longer, trees will be “stressed” and disease in the wild is on the rise, according to the state government’s website.
This isn’t the first time celebrities have been caught and called out for their water use during periods of drought, either.
Jennifer Lopez and Barbra Streisand were among some high-profile figures whose drinking habits were confronted in 2015 during a water saver.
Kylie Jenner also had to pay a $100 fine to the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in 2015 for excessive water use.
McNutt said in the interview that the best way for property owners to reduce water consumption is to completely clear their lawns and use alternative landscaping methods, such as laying sod, mulch or crushed granite.
“Lawns are so thirsty and they need so much water, it just doesn’t work anymore,” he said. “So we have to rethink what’s aesthetically pleasing for our outdoor spaces. There’s really no option left for us.”
Read the original article on Insider
