I’m sitting by the pool in my complex thinking, “Gee, I hope they don’t fill this up so often” when the guy with the hose in the condo behind me gives me a cold shower.

“Oh, sorry. Did I get you,” said the voice beyond the concrete wall.

Actually, a cool splash while roasting in 100-degree heat felt alright. It was more the guilt drilled in my head by my Italian mother that bothered me and this guy behind me. He kept on watering his sidewalk and his concrete patio with an open hose for the next 10 to 15 minutes.

Doesn’t he know there is a drought?

My wife, Karen, her friend, Kim, and myself all thought it. But none of us said anything aloud. Well, we read the papers! The drought is in its fourth year and is one of the most severe to hit California in years. In Pasadena where I live, you can only water on certain days and the state has made it illegal to water down sidewalks or patios unless there is some kind of bio hazard.

“Do we say something,” I whispered.

“I never feel comfortable confronting neighbors,” Kim said.

So we left it at that.

I’m sure the pool is recirculating the water through a filter. And I started turning off the shower to suds up, then turning it back on to rinse off.

Not to sound bold, but somehow I don’t think everyone gets it.

I’m reminded of the comment Bill Patzert, the climatologist at JPL, said to me: “I can’t wait until I can rat on my neighbors,” he said. If you know Bill, you know he is creative and loves hyperbole. But this time I sensed he was serious.

We need someone to tell us what to do. Or what not to do. To make the rules clear. And most importantly, to enforce them fairly.

That is for starters.

“I would like to see a Drought Czar for the state,” Patzert continued. “We have a secretary of state, a secretary of education. Why not a Secretary of Water.”

For those who resist government intrusion, I hear you. I’m a little uncomfortable with more government regulations. Or with fines for spraying down your sidewalk when a nice little tap on the shoulder or a wag of the finger might do just fine.

But somehow, we’ve got to get on the same page with these water restrictions. I’m reminded of that couple from Glendora who got a notice from City Hall saying their lawn with the brownish hue was unacceptable to a city that calls itself The Pride of the Foothills.

Brown may be the new green.

I’m sticking to that. And to turning off the faucet while brushing my teeth. And only watering our plants once a week. That is not too much to ask.

But before you call me Danny Downer, let me leave you with some good news.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works updated me with new reservoir numbers last week. In February there was only about 759 acre feet of water available for release. But late that month and early March, some pretty heavy storms brought water to the rivers and streams in the mountains, recharging some mountain reservoirs.

“In addition, the Morris Water Conservation Project which was finalized recently allowed us to free up storage within Morris Reservoir,” wrote Michele Chimienti, an engineer with the department’s Water Resources Division.

Chimienti said the storms brought the total available water for release up to 4,343 acre feet. He said the county is using that water “over the summer for groundwater recharge and water supply.” The engineer added: “Without that late season storm there would be no water available at this time for release.”

Good news. We will take it. Not good enough to waste water on sidewalks and patios. Everybody knows that. Right?