Dateline>City of Angels

The big buzz this side of town is the huge pot farm authorities busted this week in the Verdugo Hills. Ironically, the field of approximately 5,000 marijuana plants (worth an estimated $10 million) was sighted by a helicopter crew performing a routine fire patrol. Checking for potential hotspots, they noticed an unusually lush green patch amid the extremely dry chapparel dotting the hillsides.

And just how did the yet unidentified growers keep their weedlings so drought-tolerant? Apparently by heeding the advice of water-conservation experts and installing an elaborate drip-irrigation system.

Being the PR flack that I am, I can envision Metropolitan water officials crafting a whole new campaign around these guys — provided, of course, authorities eventually catch them. Just picture how it could perk up those otherwise boring television PSAs in which average citizens brag about their responsible water use:

“If a simple, cost-effective drip system can keep our Chronic healthy and happy, imagine how green-friendly it can make your backyard or hillside.”

There’s only one hitch. In assembling their system, the tokers tapped into a water tower housing a 10,000-gallon emergency reserve for fire-fighting. And drained it half dry.

Too bad. The orange jump suits would’ve made a nice visual.