[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Is it beyond the wit of the local water authority to set up a graduated scale rate for water use such that at the top end it would even cause a Hollywood billionaire to sit up and take notice.

Actually, no. There was a recent court case that found it was forbidden under the state constitution to do that.

California drought: Court rules tiered water rates violate state constitution

Industrial and agricultural users are dead set against any change to this.

[Timocrat]

I see this report was from last year. has the case progressed to the California Supreme Court yet?