The Stream

Californians ‘drought shame’ city for 8-million-gallon water spill

US state’s worst drought in decades prompts desperate measures to demand water conservation.

An eight-million gallon water spill in the US state of California is the latest online target of residents using social media to “shame” those wasting water. 

A water main break flooded the campus of the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) on Tuesday. Many shamed the city for the huge spill as the state faces one of its worst droughts on record.

As the drought worsens, Californians have submitted thousands of water waste reports, but a small number are also using #DroughtShaming to publicly call attention to neighbours and establishments they believe are using excessive water. Others used #UCLAflood to discuss the incident.