This shit seems so weird. I can't believe the treatment of the old woman.
We run short of city water in the dry parts of summer and sometimes the city will restrict lawn watering, here. For some reason the businesses and golf courses are exempt, but they could ticket a homeowner for having a "healthy" lawn. If everyone else in the neighborhood has a dry, brown lawn and yours is green, you're busted.
Unfortunately, some busy body down the street is trying to start up a homeowner's association, in my neighborhood.