Someone recently wrote in the Acorn that it was time for the city to start policing residents who weren't controlling their sprinkler systems and saving water.

Now Thousand Oaks is encouraging residents to report violations. But T.O. and every city in Ventura County already forfeited their own responsibilities regarding prudent water use several years ago.

The entire county, including Thousand Oaks, has known for years that we're facing a water shortage.

However, if you travel the 101 Freeway from Lindero Canyon Road to California Street in Ventura, you'll see plenty of new hotels that have been approved in the last six years.

All are huge water-guzzling hotels with swimming pools. Along Ventu Road in Newbury Park alone, we have five hotels, four of which have been developed in the last two years.

If government agencies want to make sure we have adequate water, then it's time to protect existing residents and businesses.

Why should they be required to restrict their water consumption when developers get approvals for new houses and businesses, both of which bring new consumers of water?

It's totally irresponsible that our so-called "city planners" act this way despite an obvious shortage of water.

And now we're supposed to be policing others if their sprinkler systems occasionally put water on a sidewalk or street.

I've made every effort to conserve water over the years, but it's frustrating to watch new hotels springing up like Old Faithful on the 101 corridor. And apparently there's no consideration of the consequences regarding the consumption of water.

I know from many years of living here that there's nothing that will stop development, not even if it cuts the water supply for everyone else.

But government agencies that continue to approve new projects shouldn't ask existing citizens and business people to be water cops. Gerald L. Clark Thousand Oaks