Bel Air is home to the biggest known residential water customer in the state – 11.8 million gallons. The city of Los Angeles won’t identify the homeowner, whose water bill for the 12 months ending April 1 likely topped $90,000, according to the Department of Water and Power’s rate structure.

Despite the drought, well-heeled residential customers in affluent neighborhoods are being allowed to use as much water as they want to buy, according to a review of utility records from the state’s biggest urban water agencies.

In all, 365 California households pumped more than 1 million gallons of water apiece during the year ending in April, the records show.

One million gallons is enough for eight families for a year, according to a 2011 state estimate, and many of California’s mega-users pumped far more than that. Of the total, 73 homes used more than 3 million gallons apiece, and another 14 used more than 6 million.

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