California officials are pushing back on a bombshell report that pop star Lady Gaga wasted a massive pool full of water for a video shoot at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Calif., even as the state suffers through its historic drought.
Radar Online reported that the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle, a National and California Historical Landmark in the middle of a state park, was filled with water from an on-site irrigation system for the music video of Gaga’s song “G.U.Y.” in February. Gaga filmed part of her video in the castle’s famous pool with a team of synchronized swimmers.
Radar Online reported the water was chlorinated for the swimmers, which meant it could not be re-used to irrigate the state park’s surrounding acres.
“Since the water was chlorinated, it couldn’t be used for any of the irrigation or landscaping at the Castle. The water was simply drained and disposed of,” a source told the Web site. “It was a huge waste of water which is such a precious resource in California at the moment because of the drought.”
But a rep for the California Natural Resources Agency, which oversees the state’s parks, told FOX411 that while the water was indeed chlorinated, it was a light chlorination, which left it usable for irrigation on the premises.
The rep also said the 300,000 gallon pool was only topped off from the park’s irrigation supply, as it was low due to chronic leaking problems.
In order to use the pool in the first place, Gaga said she would donate $250,000 to the Hearst Castle Foundation and film public service announcements showing Californians how to…wait for it…conserve water.
Governor Brown, who has placed water usage restrictions on many communities, even gave the ‘Applause’ singer some of his own.
“I want to personally thank you for the aid and assistance you are providing to Hearst Castle, the communities surrounding San Simeon and the state as a whole,” he said. “I’ve called on all Californians to conserve water in every way possible and the assistance you are providing will aide in that effort.”
A rep for Lady Gaga did not respond to FOX411’s request for comment.