Mayor Uses Half as Much Water as He Did Year Ago

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, who has made water conservation a city priority this year, managed to cut his own water use in half during the September billing period, compared with usage in the same period a year ago, according to Department of Water and Power figures made public Thursday.

The big drop in water use at the city-owned Getty House mansion in Hancock Park, follows an embarrassing 27.5% jump in water use by the mayor in August.

After disclosures of rising water use at Getty House, Bradley requested the DWP to make an audit of water consumption at his residence and suggest ways to cut usage. The mayor, who is in Europe on a 19-day trip to promote tourism, said in a prepared statement that the cutbacks were made without damaging the landscaping, and added: “Getty House grounds are as green as ever.” Bradley and his wife were in the home for all but three of the September billing days.