Would you ever "narc" on a neighbor for violating local watering restrictions?

[NightWatcher]

I spent a good portion of the afternoon cleaning the gutters and prepping for an installation of a rain barrel system to capture rain water to be used later to water the plants. It rained later last evening and the ground was soaked.

So I take the fuzzy one for a walk around the neighborhood and as soon as I opened the front door, I could hear multiple sprinkler systems in the distance. As it stands, we are only allowed to water twice a week and only in the late evening and early morning. What really killed me is that the ground was already saturated. Many people in this neighborhood run their sprinklers EVERY NIGHT regardless if it has been raining or if the ground is already wet.

per the law "Persons irrigating with an automatic lawn irrigation system installed • after May 1991 shall install, maintain and operate a rain sensor device or switch that overrides the system when adequate rainfall has occurred."
This neighborhood is only ten years old.

I'm contemplating ratting them out to the man, then they'll be subject to letters and warnings and eventually a slap on the wrist with a ten dollar fine or something, although no punishment is mention in the regulations.

I'm trying to save a few gallons and you idiots are wasting your kid's drinking water on your ugly ass lawn. btw, our lawn is natural and uses native grasses and is thicker and more lush than your yard and we have never watered. It's called "rain" and it works just fine if you are smart about your grass selection.

:rant:

[bigwillq]

1. Being a narc is so lame.

:eyes:



:P

Do what you got to do. Do what you think is right. I might approach them first and express your concern over this issue. See how it goes from there.

[femmocrat]

2. I would mind my own business. But that's just me.

We have asshole neighbors who burn stuff all the time. I reported them a couple of times, the supervisor came out and talked to them.... and they continue to burn stuff.

Do what you think is right for you. And good luck.

[Deep13]

9. I don't complain about backyard fires...

...since a lot of people do it and because the law against it is for fire safety and not for air pollution control. I'm not aware of a single example of one of these prepared bonfires getting out of control. Pretty much everything fun and noncommercial around here is illegal. Water restrictions are a different matter and I think that's everyone's business.

[Phentex]

3. No. I don't have the time to call on so many...

Until we had the complete watering ban, people watered illegally all the time. People still washed cars, etc.

I think they would just claim ignorance of the restrictions or something. My neighbors strategically planted new trees and then watered the entire yard under the guise of watering the new trees. This same neighbor complained about other people after the full ban was in place. I know some people were ratted out and some people placed large signs in their yard explaining when they had exemptions.

It's too widespread for me to do anything about. And now that we've had good rain lately, it doesn't bother me as much.

[stray cat]

4. He is stealing from the rest of you - would you turn in someone for theft?

[SacredCow]

5. Honestly, I think it would depend on the neighbor....

If it were my nice neighbor- the one who is pleasant and helpful... I'd probably bring it up to them casually and suggest they keep a better eye on their sprinkler. Then offer them a beer or cocktail.

If it were my POS, asshole, know-it-all, bigmouth jerk of a Republican neighbor? I couldn't narc on him fast enough.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. +1

[Deep13]

8. + another 1

[Deep13]

7. The restricts are there for a reason.

Fresh water, necessary to sustain life as well as for a few extravagant luxuries like hygene and cooking, is often scarce in much of the country. In arid states, some folks can't seem to get the idea through their thick heads that the lawn does not naturally look like a putting green or even that they live in a desert.

So, yeah, I let the local govt. know. Community efforts at conservation only work if everyone does his or her part and the shirkers are dragged into line.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. I would like to smash their sprinklers and shoot the...

repairmen on sight.

But I probably would just make a a stink at the next town meeting and bitch about lousy enforcement and fines too low.

Some of your neighbors are completely ignorant of the law and the reasons for water retrictions, but I have no doubt most of them simply don't give a shit. Really-- I've had these discussions in a nice way with many people about water use, and other things, and too many truly do not give a shit, especially if it inconveniences them in the slightest way.

Some will agree that there is a water problem, but insist that they are not the cause. Some will agree that that they should cut down on use, but forget all about that when the car has a little dirt on it or there's a brown leaf of grass. Others will just come out and tell you to mind you own business because they don't give a shit.

It's maddening.

[Kali]

11. sabotage!

since they seem oblivious they might not notice shut off water systems for a good long while!