Morning Report: The Case of the Invisible Water Hog
By: Randy Dotinga

You could call it the Case of the Invisible Water Hog.

Someone -- or more than one someone -- appears to have been using extra water in the San Diego apartment complex where our senior reporter Rob Davis lives. The landlord posted a note on his door announcing that water usage in the complex is up by 17 percent.

Whodunnit? Good question. In San Diego's apartments and condos, it can be impossible to know who's using more than their share of water.

Nosy neighbors could investigate, but imagine all the trouble that could cause. Janelle next door looks well-moisturized! Is she using the shower to create a steam room each morning? And why do Francisco's azaleas look so darned healthy? Could he be watering on the wrong days of the week?

Next month, the City Council will consider what may be a better idea: ordering new apartments and condos (with some exceptions) to install individual water meters.

As for our reporter, he says he's been conserving water and even reported a leaky toilet in his apartment a few months ago. "I'd actually learned what a leaky toilet looked like when I was inside Councilman Kevin Faulconer's bathroom when his water audit was being done," he says.

Being a reporter sure is glamorous, isn't it?

In other news: continued here.