DWP Considers Whether To Make Names Of Water-Wasters Public

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Growing outrage over water-guzzling residents has the Department of Water and Power now considering whether to make the names of those water-wasters public.

In Northern California, a utility company released the names of its biggest water-wasters, a move that now has the DWP considering doing the same, much to the chagrin of some.

"Although I don't think it's necessarily OK for people to waste water, I don't think it's OK that we expose them and for to make people focus on them," Jasmine Brand, a resident, said.

After questioning from the City Council, the DWP could change its policies to impose substantial fines for excessive use and make the names public.

But CBS2's Legal Analyst Steve Meister says that could be easier said than done.

"But in L.A., it's not such an easy question because the City Council doesn't run the water department. The water department runs the water department. It's always been that way so you have to ask DWP for something. You don't tell DWP anything," Meister said.

Other families like the Gearharts, who spent time and money on a drought-tolerant front lawn, want to know about those who aren't conserving water.

"Those are the same folks that would be very well-protected. Their names will never get out and they'll have people covering for them, so I think it would be hard to get, but it would be kind of neat if you could get it," Tom Gearhart said.

The DWP doesn't have to release the names of any of its customers. Even with pressure from the City Council, it would likely take months before any changes are made to the DWP's policy.