Delgadillo's backyard sprinkler system and his house have "had innumerable leaks over the past few years," said spokesman Nick Velasquez, adding that Delgadillo and his wife, Michelle, have "worked to identify and repair these leaks, and continue to recognize the importance of water conservation."
Even as the Delgadillos used substantial amounts of water, they saw their service shut off last year when they failed to pay their utility bill. The service was resumed after they paid.
"Like many families, my family tries to pay its bills promptly," Delgadillo said in a statement. "Sometimes, when there are oversights and the bills aren't paid on time, we get notice, and we remedy the situation."
The Times obtained water records for Delgadillo and the other officials under the California Public Records Act. The data are public only because city leaders hold sway over the municipal utility's policies.
Water use by two of the 15 council members, Jan Perry and Herb Wesson, could not be gauged because they live in multiunit buildings where it was impossible to determine individual consumption. Not enough data were available on the water use of a third member, Richard Alarcon, because he joined the council only in March.
The officials' water consumption was calculated using two sets of figures: The DWP first provided The Times with the number of gallons used by each official. Then, for comparison, the agency provided the median usage for lots of similar size in the general vicinity of each official's residence. That method allowed officials who were living in warmer areas, like the San Fernando Valley, to be evaluated against properties in their own region rather than against cooler areas such as San Pedro, where water needs can be less.
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Contradictions
The data reveal that some City Hall leaders who portray themselves as conservationists have water-use habits that contradict that image.
Cardenas, for example, appeared alongside Villaraigosa at the June news conference calling for residents to reduce their water use. But compared to typical customers in the Valley, he used more than double the amount of water at his Panorama City home over the last two years.
He attributed the high level to his packed house: His family of six was joined by five additional relatives for a 14-month span between 2005 and 2006.
