The American Southeast has been suffering from one of its worst droughts in years. But you wouldn’t know it from looking at the emerald-green estates of Palm Beach.
There, despite water restrictions and low reservoirs, lush lawns and verdant hedges line the Florida island’s biggest mansions, awaiting the start of the annual winter “season” after Thanksgiving.
To keep their thirsty estates running over the summer and fall, Palm Beachers have been more than willing to pay water surcharges and even fines. And many have found a loophole in the local water rules, allowing them to spritz more often if they pay up to plant new lawns and shrubs.
By Robert Frank
From The Wall Street Journal Online
I realize this article is dated 11/21/07. On 05/14/08 I had an appointment in PB and had to drive through Palm Beach and found that the same lush lawns and verdant hedges line are still a showpiece, while areas in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth and other parts of PB Co. are in burn-out mode.
We are still under strict water restrictions due to the lack of adequate rainfall. It is very disheartening to see the abuse of power by the wealthy that reflects on the overall health of all Palm beach County water reserves.
Most of these wealthy owners are part time residents and do not have to deal with the daily affect caused by unenforced water restrictions while the rest to the county does. Ultimately our children are will be the big losers due to these abuses.