California has codified a water caste system. In 2015 (my last experience with this), citizens were ordered to cut water use 25% while ~400 pre-1914 claimants with magical "senior water rights" took 90% of the water. [1][2]

We conserved, rates still rose, f*ck the poor the most, so that select farmers can use however much water they want. During a drought. As allowed and protected by law.

[1]: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/prog...

[2]: https://archive.gov.ca.gov/archive/gov39/2015/04/01/news1891...