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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

UPDATED: Dallas-Fort Worth’s wealthy homeowners expend millions of gallons of water a year

Updated 09:21 a.m., August 5, 2009

by PegNews wire

Some of Dallas and Fort Worth's most wealthy elites use 40 to 90 times more water than the typical DFW household. NBCDFW's report says the water bills for these homeowners look more like mortgage payments -- cataloging millions of gallons.

The #1 water bill in Dallas came from Dallas lawyer Fred Baron, who pumped more than 9 million gallons of water in 2008 and paid more than $41,000. Behind him was ultra-richTom Hicks -- owner of theTexas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and others -- whose estate drained 8.7 million gallons with a pricetag of just over $40,000. To see a list of the top 10 from Dallas and from Fort Worth, click on the PDF at this site.

No surprise on what's next -- environmentalists say the water usage is beyond excessive.

It is strictly a coincidence that other big "news" of the day is that a homeowner in Junius Heights might be in violation of Dallas city code for installing Astroturf in his front lawn. No thousand-dollar water bills for this guy. In addition to being lush and green, homeowner Jose Escobedo says his lawn is good for the environment. The jury's still out on that one.

UPDATE: NBC5 did a follow-up story about businesses that used the most water, and instead of someplace like Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, the "winners" are the MillerCoors plant in Fort Worth and the Texas Instruments plant in Dallas. MillerCoors uses about 900 million gallons per year, while T.I. doubles that with a usage of 1.8 billion gallons. Both say the amount is necessary for them to produce their products, but also say they are working at reducing or recycling the water they use.

Posted by Sarah/Updated by Alex B.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

A large part of the state is in serious drought conditions again - how can this complete waste of water be allowed?

Does it come down to - like usual - having money and power lets you do anything with impunity?

The rest of us can barely pay our bills, we watch our electric and water usage, but for the so-called elite the rules (and the rest of us) simply don't exist.

This isn't a joking matter, there is nothing funny about drought and greed.

AnnMarie Wilson Verified

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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I'm all for them rich folks spending their money however they wish but come on. It's not right to waste all of that water.

Jesus Valadez Verified

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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What is this SOCIALISM? What's the point in getting rich if you can't blow money on whatever you want? What a strange place.

DC Anonymous

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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The rest of us can barely pay our bills, we watch our electric and water usage, but for the so-called elite the rules (and the rest of us) simply don't exist.

We watch our electric and water usage BECAUSE we're not made out of a million dollars, not because we're inherently good people.

I'm not sure what the rules for water usage are right now, but if I have a million dollars and a swimming pool, I'm filling that sucker with water. If you're miffed because you can't afford a million gallons of water, that doesn't sound like a problem that concerns me at all.

Now, if there's an actual drought watch and water regulations, then sure - it's criminal to waste the water, since every gallon you use is a gallon I might not get. But if you start telling me how I can and can't use my own money on legal things, I'm going to start purchasing legal weapons and waiting to see if you happen to take a shortcut across my lawn.

Pavel Lishin Verified

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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So we're miffed that someone will waste money on water - specifically that rich people have more money to waste on such things.

Anybody notice we paid good money for yet another "Statement of the bloody-d*mned obvious" Study?

Jason Rice Verified

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Oh, wait - I'd have to watch their commercials to be consider "billed' For it.

Sorry - freeloader here.

at ease.

Jason Rice Verified

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Anybody notice we paid good money for yet another "Statement of the bloody-d*mned obvious" Study?

While I agree it's stating the blatantly obvious (omg wealthy people can and do pay for more of something? Wow!), unless you donate to NBCDFW we didn't pay squat - looks like they just dug around in public record for awhile looking for something to squawk about.

Scott Doyle Verified

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hmmm, your second comment didn't show up in my RSS for some reason - carry on!

Wait, damn you wealthy bastards and yer aquaphile ways!!!

Now carry on.

Scott Doyle Verified

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Ann Marie, should you ever fall off your horse, you're going to break your neck.

pabloindallas Anonymous

3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Don't get me wrong, millions of gallons of water is just dumb. I think Dallasites are so far removed from any sort of nature, who the hell cares? Well, AM I suppose.

DC Anonymous

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Wouldn't water parks like Hurricane Harbor be more of a priority if conservation was your true concern? Story comes off as "those jerks shouldn't be entitled to anymore water than I am", imo - little more.

Scott Doyle Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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It is Still wonderful being a spoiled Texan, besides...my lawn looks better then yours.....HA...well wake up and smell the coffee..these lawns are drinking up our water supply ...while we are ...or maybe entering a drought.......na that aint true,...105 degree weather what is a farmer going to do........A/T, BUY ASTRO TURFF..dummy...

alexander troup Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Correct me if I'm wrong DC, but didn't our esteemed Teflon governor (the one that wants to secede, turn down stimulus money etc) just go begging for money because part of Texas is in extreme drought conditions again?

Hmmm tell me what part of just wasting because YOU CAN - be good for everyone/thing.

So when this drought is official in more areas, everyone will 'legally' have to conserve again.

Yes, DC- I'm one of those poor, silly people that give-a-d@mn. You'd think I'd know better by now after dealing with those that DON'T care about anything but their small corner of the street.

I realize this is a truly stupid question, but... doesn't it make more sense to conserve normally/naturally so that when a disaster strikes, we're not in nearly as much trouble.

That theory of course goes for other issue to..

AnnMarie Wilson Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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::doesn't it make more sense to conserve normally/naturally

The rich will still buy and sell your kidneys if disaster strikes. They just might delay a cocktail party to do it, but by and large they go unimpeded.

Hail Malthus!

Jason Rice Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Ha! Did Travis have another bad dream??

When does Rover Dramawerks start production Jason?

jtmbls Anonymous

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Not likely. It's being done to freakin' DEATH by every yoyo with a followspot (or even without).

Our mission statement precludes doing pop stuff. A shame in this case, because I do actually like it a great deal.... perhaps the only musical I unabashedly enjoy.

Jason Rice Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Jill, it's true..especially the young rich ones..

Travis Bush Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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What's really sad is that a few blocks away from Highland Park, there are people whose houses would be paid off if they had money like that. I'm sure the wealthy are hard workers, but I've always been impressed by the work ethic of people with home worth less than $50,000. To pay the bills, they have to -work-. The difference, I believe is that some people start life better off than others. I have a hard time understanding why the wealthy can unabashedly spend ridiculous amounts of money on ridiculous things and then some people defend them because the wealthy have somehow earned this right?

Colleen Walsh Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Colleen - what's spending ridiculous amounts of money to you, me, and people living in a home worth less than $50K is probably completely different.

I might spend $5 a day buying Starbucks - does it make me less of a person that I have $5 to spend on coffee, whereas someone else could never fathom spending that kind of money on "ridiculous things"? Should I be compelled to give my money away to charity because there are others that can't afford coffee?

Likewise, why is a person that has the wealth to spend money on a large water bill such a bad person?

Whether or not it's "right" to use water to keep your lawn for conservation reasons is a different topic - but to argue that someone shouldn't do it because they have a lot of money makes no sense.

James Scott Verified

3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Hmmm, AM, maybe I was agreeing with you, mmmmm mmmmm mm? It's ridiculous that in DALLAS, where I can put out two trash cans a week larger than the combined body mass of my entire household that there's going to be outrage on water usage.

Go buy a rain barrel.