Melbourne, Australia – Water Fears

Melbourne’s reservoirs are currently just 38 percent full and Margaret Norriss is living in fear. Like an increasing number of Melburnians, Ms Norriss is worried of accusations that she is breaking new water restrictions in the drought-hit capital of Victoria.

The Age reports that Ms Norriss has placed a notice at the front of her garden declaring to her neighbours that only non-town water is in use.

She has been forced to do this after the State Government asked people to phone a hotline anonymously and dob in (report) water cheats.

For those like Ms Norriss who are using grey, rain or bore water to keep their gardens green, the only defence from the self-appointed water police is the signs they are placing in their gardens declaring their source of garden water.

Even Deputy Premier and Water Minister John Thwaites suggested that people hang signs in their gardens telling the community where their water has come from.

Many talkback radio show callers have confessed that they are spying on their neighbours’ water usage.

David Dunstan of Monash University is worried that communities are suffering as “neighbour is pitted against neighbour”.

“The Government is encouraging neighbour to spy on neighbour and dob them in,” Dr Dunstan said.