Why did Monte Vista Water District raise rates?
Monte Vista Water District meets approximately 50% of its customers’ annual water demand with local groundwater supplies. The remaining 50% is imported from the State Water Project, originating from northern California. The reliability of this imported supply source has diminished greatly due to severe drought conditions and environmental and regulatory restraints affecting the entire state of California. As a result, the cost of obtaining imported water supply has increased greatly.
Additionally, prudent utility management requires the District to maintain adequate reserves in order to fund facility replacement needs, as well as to accommodate natural disasters, spikes in energy costs, and reduced revenue due to droughts. Current revenues are not adequate to fund replacement needs and maintain adequate reserves. Portions of the District’s infrastructure are over 50 years old and are undersized for adequate water service and fire protection. The District has prepared a Facilities Master Plan of its capital replacement needs for the next 30 years, a copy of which may be reviewed at the District office during business hours.
Why did Monte Vista Water District move to budget-based tiered rates?
Budget-based tiered rates fairly allocate the cost of water service based on water needs. The method recognizes the difference between indoor and outdoor use and rewards customers who use water efficiently with lower water rates. The water budget represents an appropriate amount of water to meet single-family residential customers’ needs. If customers exceed their budget, they will be considered to be using water inefficiently and will pay a higher rate.
The Governor has established a goal of 20 percent reduction of water use by 2020. A comprehensive water legislation package passed by state lawmakers in November now requires all water providers to meet specific water conservation targets by 2020. A budget-based tiered rate structure will assist the District in achieving its water use reduction goals. Other District strategies to achieve this goal include increased use of recycled water and continued implementation of water conservation and public outreach programs.
What is a water budget?
A water budget is an amount of water allocated to each single-family residential customer per billing cycle for indoor and outdoor uses. Like financial budgeting, a water budget gives customers a target so they can use water efficiently and pay lower rates. A customer’s budget per billing cycle will equal their indoor (Tier 1) and outdoor (Tier 2) allocations. Tier 2 allocations will be adjusted seasonally to match outdoor watering needs.
What are water budgets based on?
The total water budget is based on the indoor (Tier 1) and outdoor (Tier 2) allocations. All single-family residential customers will receive an indoor water allocation to accommodate 4 people per household, based on U.S. Census and State of California Department of Finance data. Customers will receive 75 gallons of water per person per day as part of their indoor allocation. All customers will receive an outdoor water allocation set according to their property's estimated irrigated area, based on County parcel data (lot size, house footprint) and estimated hardscape (garages/carports, driveway, sidewalks, etc.).
Why do I have to pay a higher rate for my outdoor water use?
Indoor water use is essential for public health and safety, while outdoor water use is necessary for growing aesthetically pleasing plants and landscaping. Therefore, the cost of providing outdoor water is proportional to the need. Outdoor water use can be reduced by increased irrigation efficiency and replacement of water-thirsty grass with more water-efficient plants.
Additionally, charging more for outdoor use keeps the indoor (Tier 1) rate lower and provides opportunities for those who conserve water to keep their water bills lower.
What if I need more water than my budget gives me?
Customers may apply for a variance to their water budget to adjust the number of people in a household, irrigated area, or for a special circumstance such as a home daycare facility. Click here to download an Application for Water Budget Variance.
Will it be hard to stay within my budget?
Customers should be able to keep their water use within their individual water budgets (Tiers 1 and 2). If the District’s single-family residential customers use the same amount of water in 2010 that they used in 2009, 92% of all their water use would fall within either Tier 1 or Tier 2, and only 13% of customers would pay Tier 3 or Tier 4 rates sometime during the year.
How can I reduce my water use to stay within my budget?
Visit our website’s “Watch the Water” section for a wealth of ideas on how you can save water. For rebates on water conserving devices, visit www.socalwatersmart.com or call (888) 376-3314. For a free landscape irrigation evaluation, visit www.cbwcd.org or call (909) 626-2711.
How much water is in a billing unit?
One billing unit is equal to 100 cubic feet of water, or 748 gallons of water.
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