EBMUD list of excessive water users includes former Warrior

ORINDA, Calif. (KTVU) - East Bay MUD once again released a list of its heaviest water users Thursday, and the numbers are astonishing. Some Contra Costa County customers are using 5,000 gallons, 7,800 gallons and even 9,600 gallons every day.

Even a well-known Bay Area athlete has found himself on that list using almost 3,000 gallons a day, Golden State Warrior, Adonal Foyle. The 40-year-old Foyle played center for the Warriors for ten years.

"I've always believed and always been and thought of myself as part of the community," he told KTVU as he showed KTVU around his Orinda home.

With a master's degree in sports psychology, he's known for his unique perspective among pro athletes.

"I think it's important that everybody take this drought seriously. I think there's a lot of people who don't have the water they need to operate on a given day," said Foyle.

Foyle says he does not want to be on the list of heavy water users.

"For me, I'm disappointed that we have not been able to figure out what are causing the significant water issues on our property," explained Foyle.

The former Warrior showed KTVU all the areas where he's made changes to save water.

"Maybe half an acre of the property, we have stopped watering. We have tried to clear out the foliage, making it look pretty, but not necessarily green," said Foyle. "And you know, we have really tried to cut back, and this area is really one of the main areas that we water. But we went from five days a week down to two."   

To make the list, a customer has to use at least 1,000 gallons a day. There are 1,100 residents on the list, many of them using thousands of gallons on a daily basis. One customer in Diablo uses 9,600 gallons a day.

"We're not in this by ourselves. I mean I think we are responsible to our community," said Foyle.

By comparison, officials at Round Hill Country Club told KTVU through the restaurants, bars, and locker rooms, the course's two clubhouses use 7,000 gallons per day.    

Foyle says with penalties, his water bill is $2,200 dollars per cycle, something he wants to cut down dramatically.

"This is an unusual situation. And all of us have to do a little bit more than normal to try to help the next person."    

The former basketball player is convinced he has a major leak in his irrigation system and he says he's going to do what he can to find and cap it.