The savings targets are really unrealistic and possibly even illegal under current water laws. But the thing we should stress is this is legislation thats proposed. Even a threat of the fine. If you want to rattle cages he got their attention. Meanwhile perfectly good groundwater is being pumped straight to the storm drains in one bay area city. New at 6 00, kpix 5 is in palo alto where the city cant seem to stop the water wasters. Theyre building a basement which requires them to pump water out of the ground all day every day. Tens of thousands of dollars of water literally going down the drain. Reporter this is what the city of palo alto calls dewatering. A common construction practice in which thousands of gallons of water are pumped from the ground to build a basement. In a time of severe drought neighbors call it Something Else entirely. This water could be used for other purposes. Reporter the citys Public Work Department estimates the contractor at one construction site could pu