CCWD water, sewer rates up as of July 1
Published:
By KATY
The Union Democrat
Calaveras County Water District directors Wednesday approved a
controversial series of water and sewer rate hikes that could hit heavy water
users hardest.
The rates go into effect July 1, and increase the flat water-use
rate, now $25.50 a month, by $3.50 a month each year over the next five years.
Sewer rates, now $45 a month, also will climb — $4.50 a month each year over
five years.
A plus for customers: the flat rate for water will cover use of up
to 125 gallons a day, up from 75.
CCWD officials say the rate increases, which other utility
districts in the county are also facing, are necessary because of the rising
costs of construction materials, labor and trickle-down state fees, which have
been climbing as water regulations grow stricter.
But 359 customers sent letters to the district protesting the
increases — most saying the new fees will hit the poor and elderly hardest.
Clyde Clapp, a landlord in Valley Springs, said many of his
tenants make about $8 an hour and live in two-family homes.
"I can't imagine making $8 an hour, so I won't try to put
myself in their shoes. But this is really killing the poor people," he
said. "I tell them to move to another state."
In response to such concerns, CCWD asked the
Water customers who exceed the base rate of 125 gallons per day
enter a tiered structure, which adds from $1 to $1.60 for each additional 100
cubic feet of water used, depending on the number of gallons. The first tier
caps at 750 gallons per day, or $50.50 per month; the
second tier stops at 1,500 gallons per day and costs up to $88 per month; and
the 7 percent of CCWD customers who use more than 1,500 gallons per day in the
summer will be paying more than $88 a month.
"Our system is not designed to handle more than 1,500 gallons
per day. It costs us more to run that much water through our facilities,"
said Information Systems Administrator John Gomes.
CCWD tried to take customers' financial burden into account by
upping the number of gallons in the base tier and spacing rate hikes out over
five years, he said.
The San Andreas Utility District, for example, raised its rates
from $25 to $54 per month in one billing cycle.
Some customers and several board members complained the tiered
rate structure doesn't differentiate between commercial and residential
customers. Restaurants, farms and outdoor businesses are much more likely to be
in the top tier, and are already subject to business fees and taxes that
homeowners aren't. Director Jeff Davidson argued that could hurt small
businesses.
"The idea of a district is to spread the cost over a lot of
people," said Scott Ennis, of Valley Springs. "With the tiered
system, I think you're doing the opposite — taking a few people and penalizing
them."
Ennis said the rate increase would raise his water bill, now about
$350 per month during the summer, to almost $700. He waters 300 landscape trees
on his property and keeps a small watering hole for deer and other wildlife to
drink out of. A CCWD pipe leak attracted the animals to his property, now he
maintains the ecosystem for them to stay, he said.
Directors were divided on whether or not to eliminate the top two
tiers completely. Director Ed Rich was strongly opposed, reminding the board that
the tiers were a compromise anyway, since the goal is conservation.
"Larger water use is discretionary. It's like driving a
high-efficiency car versus a low-efficiency car," he said. "You can
drive a Hummer if you want to pay for it."
A vote to get rid of the top tiers failed when
CCWD — which serves a total of 17,000 water and sewer customers —
has not raised rates since 2001.
Contact Katy Brandenburg at kbrandenburg@
uniondemocrat.com or 736-0916.