Im not sure what you mean by living in So Cal as a waste, everyone wastes no matter where you live. However, I cant tell you how many times I see a sprinklers watering the asphalt and it pisses me off. If I had the power to turn off the water or fix that shit I would. Thats why I hate lawns so much. A complete waste of a fuckton of water.
All I can do is lead by example which is why I cut back on my usage and waste, have a compost, working on building my own garden (already have a few fruit trees), use a reusable water bottle etc. People think its stupid, but whats actually stupid is not doing your part to reduce. Howre we to preserve our planet for future generations? By reducing our carbon footprint and influencing others to do the same.