Beware Water Wasters: Sacramento Is Looking For You As It Tries To Meet 28 Percent Cut

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sacramento city regulators are warning everyone if they're not doing their part, they could face a fine.

The State Water Resources Control Board gave the city of Sacramento a 28 percent reduction mandate, something the city it says it should have no problem reaching. That's because the city has already been proactive and ramping up enforcement.

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Water inspector Steve Upton is on the lookout for water wasters.

"We can really see the effects of the drought now and so it's even more important," he said.

As the city gears up to slash its water use even more, it says Upton's job is that much more important.

Rhea Serrano is with the city of Sacramento. We asked how the city is ramping up enforcement.

"We've increased the amount of water inspectors that we have out, right now we are doing seven days a week, previously we were only doing a few days a week," she said.

The city now has 60 employees trained to spot water infractions at all hours.

Back in 2013, the city took action on about 1,300 customers suspected of wasting water. That number shot up to 19,000 in 2014.

So far in less than four months, water inspectors have issued 4,400 warnings or fines to customers.

In one south Land Park home, Upton found sprinklers on plants spraying water all over the street during non-watering hours, with runoff hitting the gutters.

"I'm just turning the system completely off, because it's already flooding so much, it's not going to get shut off anytime soon," he said.

He'll issue the owner, who didn't answer the door, a violation and be back to follow up.

"Water is becoming a precious commodity that we need to hold on to, and not literally watch it run down the drain," he said.