In Barcelona, the local government is taking drastic measures to protect the increasingly-scant water resources available, and is now issuing fines to citizens that use potable water for uses other than drinking. The fines, which were implemented in April of this year, can be levied for a number of different offenses. From the press release on the City of Barcelona’s website:

Minor sanctions will be applied in the case of using drinking water to wash cars on the road, water gardens of between 250 and 1,000 square metres, or filling pools up to 12 metres deep by six wide.

Using drinking water to water gardens between 1,000 and 3,000 square metres is considered a serious offence, and will carry fines of 800 euros.

The highest fines are for using drinking water for gardens of more than 3,000 metres - fine of 2,500 euros - or filling pools of more than 52 metres - 2,800 euros.

If I’m doing my math correctly, 2,800 euro is close to 4.2 billion dollars, so this is no small change we’re talking about here. Of course, if you have a garden that’s 3000 meters (almost two miles (that conversion actually is accurate)), you’ve probably got some money to burn anyway. Recidivists, it should be noted, may have their water completely shut off.

Barcelona is obviously not alone in its efforts to find a way to ensure drinking water remains available. takepart and read a fascinating article in the Christian Science Monitor that questions if water is “becoming ‘the new oil,’” and takepart here to learn 100 ways to save water based on the region of the country you live in.