Placer County Has App For Reporting Water Wasters, Tracking Usage

PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) — When it comes to water conservation and reporting water waste, the Placer County Water Agency has an app for that.

It's like a virtual neighborhood watch in the palm of your hand.

"We see it as a difference between policing, where you're going out and actively looking for water wasters," said spokesman Ross Branch.

DOWNLOAD: Placer County Water Agency

The smartphone app acts like extra boots on the ground to spot and stop those who let the flow of their H2O go too far.

"I think it's a great tool to have just because we have a huge situation here and I think everyone needs to do their part," said resident Robin Martz.

But other customers call it drought shaming and fear it could turn neighbors into enemies.

"I live in a neighborhood where there are a lot of CCR's and people walk around and go oh, you've got your basketball hoop too close to the sidewalk. There's already so much of that going on and I feel like that's one more thing," said Christine Daniel.

The app allows you to take a picture and sends the coordinates of the location to the water district where they'll look into it.

"Right now, the app is about 10 percent of the reports that we're getting. So it's still catching on, it's still fairly new," Branch said. "We're working to make sure it does become more effective and we believe it will as the summer moves on."

Another feature allows people to track their water use in the shower by converting minutes into gallons of water used.

"I think when you can actually put it into something as water used versus time, I do think that has an effect and those kinds of things can affect behavior," Branch said.

While the technology is something other districts across the state have turned to, the water district is confident it will flush out wasteful ways so it can reach its mandatory 32 percent cuts.