Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
April 23, 2008
5. Agencies, Programs, People -
Water rate increases expected to continue
Piru latest in county to see user fees go up
By Tony Biasotti, staff writer
By now, the prospect of a water rate increase doesn't draw angry citizens or even much discussion at Ventura County Board of Supervisors meetings. The board approved its fifth rate increase of the year Tuesday, this one for a tiny water district near Piru, and there wasn't much left to say.
"I'll hold my nose" and make the motion to raise rates in County Waterworks District No. 16, Supervisor Kathy Long said.
This increase was 5.9 percent. Rate hikes earlier this year in Somis, Moorpark,
The increases have come in response to higher prices levied last year by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the supplier for most of
"The cost of providing water is only going to go up," Don Kendall, general manager of the Calleguas Municipal Water District, said in an interview Monday. Calleguas buys water imported from Northern California by Metropolitan Water and sells it to cities and water districts in
"It's not going to be as bad as what people are seeing at the gas pump, but I think we'll see several years of rate increases of about 8 or 10 percent,"
People in
The reasons for the rising price of water are numerous: the rising cost of energy and pumping; court-ordered steps to protect fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that reduce the amount of water coming down the California Aqueduct; and years of low rainfall and snowpack.
Some local water agencies also need to spend money on improving aging pipes and pumping facilities, and that cost is typically born by ratepayers.
"Each water district is different," said Reddy Pakala, the county's director of water and sanitation. "Some places we have to pump over the hills, some places we have groundwater and some places we have only imported water. We fold all of those into our analysis."
The county governs only a few small water districts. The rest of
Water rates vary widely, according to figures compiled by the county Department of Water and Sanitation. The average for residential customers is about $800 per acre-foot, or $2.45 per 1,000 gallons. Agricultural customers often pay slightly less.
Somis residents pay the lowest rates, about $1.72 per 1,000 gallons. Fillmore charges the most, about $3.80 per 1,000 gallons.
Residents can hold up proposed water rate increases by submitting written letters of protest, but there haven't been enough letters to force a vote on any recent increases.
"I got a letter saying our rates are going up, and if you want to protest, write a letter," said David Gelfuso, a Moorpark resident. "Ordinarily I wouldn't do that, but for some reason, that day I thought, I don't want to spend any more.'"
Gelfuso said he spends about $100 a month on water for his home and small yard. His bill stayed about the same through the latest increase, because he cut his usage by about 10 percent.
"I understand, I guess," he said. "It's a good explanation — everything's getting more expensive."#
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/apr/23/water-rate-increases-expected-to-continue-piru/
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