EBMUD releases list of heaviest water users during drought

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- A new report from the East Bay Municipal Utility District was released that lists the 1,100 heaviest water users during the drought.

Retired Chevron executive George Kirkland tops the list at more than 12,000 gallons of water a day.

Sky7 HD was over Oakland Athletics executive Billy Beane's property in Danville, one of the other top water users on the list.

One day after his name appeared on a list of excessive water users, there is a leak detection truck outside the Blackhawk home of A's executive Billy Beane.

Beane appears third on a partial list released by EBMUD of the top water users over a 60 day period that included July and August.

Number one is George Kirkland, a former Chevron executive and Blackhawk neighbor of Beane's, who averages more than 12,000 gallons per day. Number two, Alamo venture capitalist Mark Pine, more than 8,000 and then Beane with nearly 6,000 gallons per day.

"12,000 gallons a day, 6,000 gallons a day? That's crazy. It's really selfish," said Betty Vallon, an EBMUD customer.

In a statement, Beane told ABC7 News: "Multiple irrigation leaks and a significant pool leak were recently discovered and are in the process of being corrected. We are more than displeased and embarrassed by the usage and taking immediate action."

"These customers should have told us they had a leak during the appeals process and they should've filed an appeal to get off this list while we investigated the appeals, but they didn't," said EBMUD spokesperson Abby Figueroa.

Dane Bigham is fourth on the list, averaging 5,000 gallons per day. He said he too had a leak.

"So, I turned off the supply to the water system and called my gardener. He came out on and fixed the leak. Then I got a water bill from the district and it was $4,000," Bigham said.

The average household usage for all EBMUD customers is about 250 gallons per day.

To learn how much water your city is required to cut back, click here.
For EBMUD customers billing questions about leaks and high bills click here.
For water rebate information from Bay Area water suppliers, click here. You'll find tips about how to conserve water here and information on how to to report water wasters #WhereYouLive, here.

For full coverage on the drought, click here.