Microsoft’s Gates Is No. 1 in Water Usage
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Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates’ mansion went through a whopping 4.7 million gallons of water last year--nearly 60 times the consumption of a typical homeowner in thirsty Seattle, and enough to flood his five-acre estate nearly 3 feet deep.
Gates’ home--which includes a 60-foot pool, sauna and indoor-outdoor spa--racked up a $24,828 water bill for 2000, the Seattle Times reported. He was the area’s top residential water consumer.
The Seattle Public Utilities figures, released under a public records request by the paper, show the median household uses about 80,000 gallons of water per year.
Gov. Gary Locke declared a drought emergency last month. Seattle Public Utilities asked its customers to reduce usage by 10%.
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