Kardashians Among Celebrities Who Have Flouted Water Cuts

Two of the top things California is known for these days have come together: celebrities and the water crisis. When you combine these specialties, you get a sketch of some of the state’s most famous water wasters.

A couple of the best-known offenders: Kylie Jenner of the famous Kardashian clan and the rapper Tyga. The Hollywood Reporter explained:

Among the June culprits, according to documentation obtained by The Hollywood Reporter through a state Public Records Act request: Kylie Jenner, who lives in a $2.7 million, 5,000-square-foot Mediterranean mansion in Calabasas’ guard-gated Oaks enclave, as well as her hip-hop paramour Tyga (aka Michael Stevenson), who rents a $10.2 million, 12,000-square-foot Tuscan nouveau villa a few blocks away.

Sometimes water overseers contact famous residents in an effort to rein them in. Kim Kardashian was sent outreach by Dave Pedersen, general manager of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District which serves Calabasas and Hidden Hills.

“[He said] his agency has been patrolling the areas in the community looking to stop water waste – including gated neighborhoods,” the report said.

"We have actually reached out to celebrities in our district," Pedersen said, per the report. "I have personally written letters to them asking them to take a stand on conservation."

Some more offenders, per NBC4:

This summer, officials cited David Hasselhoff’s home as well as a house belonging to music mogul Dr. Dre. And in October, the Calabasas home of actress Denise Richards also received a violation.

A rep for Hasselhoff told NBC4 the violation he received was for watering on the wrong day – and said it was an oversight and the matter has now been addressed.

"Nobody likes enforcement," Pedersen said. "We’re not eager to do it and I’m not eager to do it, but it’s a necessity.

California is successfully managing to save water during the drought after the state government issued mandates to cut urban water use. The New York Times reported:

Californians cut water use by more than 31 percent in July, the largest savings the state has logged since a drought emergency was declared last year. It was the second month of mandatory 25 percent statewide cutbacks, compared with July 2013, and residents again surpassed the target set by Gov. Jerry Brown, an indication that Californians understand the severity of the drought and that conservation tactics are working.

For more on the California drought, visit Water Online’s Water Scarcity Solutions Center.