Though he knows it makes no financial sense, Sam Lipson regularly drives to a local sewer plant to haul home free effluent to irrigate the trees in his yard. A year ago, at the height of California’s drought when residents faced higher rates and penalties for using too much water, the time and effort saved Lipson money. Now, with drought rates and penalties gone, Lipson saves less than 20 cents on his water bill each time he picks up 40 gallons of free effluent, instead of getting the water from his faucet at home. That’s scant compensation for the time and effort.