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Cameron Donnarumma drives his squad car through the streets of Las Vegas.
He pays particular attention to suspicious front gardens with sprinkler systems.
His job: to find and warn water wasters.
Anyone who violates the strict savings rules must pay.
“I'm filling out a water wastage report. So I'll put the date and time in.”
Cameron Donnarumma, Water Patrol Las Vegas
“Right now we have summer irrigation. So it's against the rules to water between 11am and 7pm. It's too hot and the water will evaporate anyway, so that's how it's handled
.
We have mandatory watering days.
Depending on the time of year, some parts of the city may only irrigate on certain days of the week.
If someone is watering on the wrong day, that would also be something we look for.”
For decades, the West Coast region of the United States has suffered from extreme drought and dryness.
The Lake Mead reservoir is critical to the water supply of 25 million people.
It is currently at a record low.
This is one of the reasons why special patrols are used to educate the residents of Las Vegas to save water.
Cameron Donnarumma, Water Patrol Las Vegas
“I mainly drive around Las Vegas and look for cases of water wastage. This can be anything from excessive drainage, water running off the property, anything that isn't working or is broken. Like a broken sprinkler, a broken dripping irrigation system, a leak, something like
.
Authorities have collected more than $100,000 this year from traffic tickets for water violations.
Penalties range from $80 to $1,200 depending on the severity of the offense.
Residents are also encouraged to report water wastage.
Above all, the aim is to create awareness of the drought problem.
“Some people might be upset, but we take the time to educate them and let them know why it's important. But on the whole I would say that the response from the public has been mostly positive
.«
The measures the city is taking to save water are drastic.
Last year, a law was passed banning "non-functional" lawns.
Lawns in front of apartment buildings, in shopping centers or on the street must therefore be removed.
Artificial grass is often used.
Bronson Mack, Las Vegas Water District
“Look, lawns are turning into dinosaurs here in southern Nevada. They are the biggest water consumers in our community, at least from the outdoor facilities. And, to be honest, they don't offer any real benefit
."
Those who decide to replace their grass with artificial turf, cacti or pebbles will receive up to $1,000 from the authorities.
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