Department of Water Resources
California Water News
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 6, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Irrigation district looks to move, expand
Fairfield Daily Republic
Port Hueneme switches to metered water usage rates
Ventura County Star
Changes proposed for water service ordinance
Ukiah Daily Journal
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Irrigation district looks to move, expand
Fairfield Daily Republic-8/5/09
By Barry Eberling
The Solano Irrigation District next week will hold two open houses to discuss its plans to relocate its Vacaville headquarters.
The open houses will be Aug. 12 at the Dixon Senior Center, 201 S. Fifth St. in Dixon and Aug. 13 at Falls Education Center, 1634 Rockville Road near Fairfield. The time for both workshops is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Plans call for moving both the headquarters and corporation yard on Elmira Road in Vacaville so they can be expanded.
The SID determined the most cost-effective option is to relocate into existing office and warehouse buildings, including buildings on property next to the existing headquarters. This option would cost $13.8 million, according to the district.
Other options include building a new headquarters on land between Vacaville and Dixon. The district ruled out expanding its existing headquarters and corporation yard, in part because of the hilly topography.
The district proposes to pay for the project with savings, with some of the money being repaid by the sale of the existing Elmira Road headquarters property when market conditions improve. Rates could also increase slightly to replenish the reserves. The district board is to discuss the relocation issue Aug. 20.
Please go to http://www.sidwater.org or call 455-4080 for more information. SID brings water to Solano County farms and some rural homes.#
http://search.dailyrepublic.com/display.php?id=3411
Port Hueneme switches to metered water usage rates
Ventura County Star-8/6/09
By Gareth Dodd
For the first time in the city’s 60-year history, Port Hueneme residents are transferring to water rates based on metered usage, rather than a flat monthly rate.
The new system went into effect Saturday per a state mandate that requires all cities to charge residents for actual water usage. It has required the installation of 5,600 meters throughout the city.
The meters were read on July 31 to establish a baseline for determining water usage in the future.
The switch will be phased in over four years, with residents finding 20 percent of their water bill based on metered usage and 80 percent on a fixed charge in the first year. The city’s goal of a 50/50 split of metered and fixed rates is expected to be reached in four years.
The City Council approved new water rates on June 1.
Public Works Director Andres Santamaria said the rates will be adjusted each year during the next four years to take into account the cost of water, processing, operations and maintenance, and debt service. He said increases will be implemented gradually to mitigate the rising costs of providing water.
“Fixed charges are charged to cover the costs of maintaining the water distribution system, such as water mains, water meters, fire hydrants and valves,” Santamaria said. “These costs are required regardless of the volume of water used throughout the system.”
Santamaria said if the billing system were based 100 percent on metered water usage, revenue required to maintain the distribution system would vary from month to month, resulting in an inconsistent revenue stream to the city and inconsistent billing charges to water users.
He said the city has sent notices to residents whose meters showed 24-hour use, signaling a potential leak. Some residents have repaired their toilets, faucets or water sprinkler systems. Santamaria said residents who do not make repairs will pay for water escaping from their systems.
“The customer will pay for the water, whether it is for a shower, leaky faucet or a leaky sprinkler system,” Santamaria said. “We hope residents will take our notices seriously and not find out the hard way that water leaks can add up to real money.”
He added that very-low water users will see a small decrease in their water bill in the first year, while average users will see a 17 percent increase and heavy users will see their rates jump 34 percent.
“The transition to usage-based rates is going to force a lot of people to think about how they use water, and how they can lower their water bills by conserving water,” City Manager David Norman said. “It is important for people to understand that they will be billed in September for the water they used beginning Aug. 1. The time to start conserving water is now.”
Port Hueneme is in the process of building a water conservation Web site to inform residents of available rebates and ways to conserve water at home, in the yard and commercially.
The Web site will also contain information on irrigation and drought-tolerant plants. A water conservation hotline is in development for citizens who do not have access to a computer.#
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/aug/06/port-hueneme-switches-to-metered-water-usage/
Changes proposed for water service ordinance
Ukiah Daily Journal-8/5/09
By Linda Williams
In addition to a series of administrative changes, the City of Willits is considering a number of substantive changes to its water service ordinance.
Many of the more serious changes involve temporary connections and meters purchased or installed but never placed in service. A copy of all the proposed changes may be downloaded from the city website: thecityofwillits.com.
Nearly 50 lot owners planning to develop properties have paid a connection fee to install a water meter but these have never been installed. The city is now proposing a one year time limit for these, before cancelling the installation.
Another 85 meters were installed but never placed in service. These connections are paying no monthly fee. The new proposal would now requires the customers pay a monthly base rate.
Currently temporary connections have no specified time limit and a number of such connections have been in place on fire hydrants for years. The new proposed limit is for a 90-day period.
Charges for new service connections will require someone requesting a new connection to pay all costs for the connection including any costs to upgrade the existing system where it may cause an "undue burden" on current users.
Changes some of the requirements to re-establish service once it has been stopped.
Delinquent accounts in excess of 12 months on undeveloped lots will forfeit the connection and any capital improvement fees.
A leak adjustment will be considered only one time in any 12 month period.
Customers requesting a meter relocation or change will pay all costs of the change as determined by the water department.
A public hearing will be scheduled during a future Willits City Council meeting on the proposed changes when it is placed before the council for formal introduction and adoption.
Anyone wishing to provide input into to the changes should contact City Manager Paul Cayler at 459-4601 or a member of the city council.#
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