California’s drought has already led to water rationing, grass replacement, and weird new jobs – but it also brought about a new phenomenon: “drought shaming”
As CBS News reports people are “snitching on their neighbors”:
“Hi, I’d like to report a neighbor that has water running strong enough that it is making a puddle on the sidewalk,” said one caller.
So far this year, the number of complaints to the Sacramento Department of Utilities has skyrocketed to more than 10,000, up from about 700 at the same time last year.
One caller decided to go uber-dramatic:
“I don’t know what they’re doing, but it’s the most wasteful water usage I have ever seen,” said one ‘snitch’ hotline caller. “I just want to try and save some water for my child in the future.”
And phone calls are not the only way to drought shame
People are also tattling on twitter. Under #droughtshaming are pictures of the precious resource going down the drain. Mike Barnum wrote: “way to hose down your entire sidewalk…twice.”
Some examples include:
Rampant water waste at 3516 Sawtelle #droughtshaming #marvista #mikebonin #everyday #drought pic.twitter.com/rMcoXqNW88
— Harriet Ells (@HarrietElls) July 23, 2014
Neighbor has the greenest lawn and dirt free gutter since she waters EVERY SINGLE DAY. #droughtshaming #California pic.twitter.com/kGre1ktcKi — R. R. Rogan (@BelleTraveler) July 23, 2014
I’m not sure why-I’m usually no snitch-but reporting my neighbor’s #waterwaste to Pomona DWP was strangely satisfying. #droughtshaming — Kirsten Gerdes (@Kirst2Wander) July 21, 2014
Well, congratulations California, you are saving water for your child’s future – but remember…
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