Time To Conserve; Water Rate Hikes
By Tracy Rolling

Example of a water meter dial reading 2535.85.Photo by Tracy Rolling

Rain isn't the only thing water officials are hoping for this winter; conservation efforts would be beneficial, too.

A new round of water rate hikes is set for Jan. 1, when water will increase to $2.47 per unit from $2.32 per unit. A unit is 748 gallons of water.

In addition, untreated water - used only for irrigation - will rise from $1.68 to 1.73 per unit.

"A hundred percent of the town water supply is imported from the (San Diego) County Water Authority," said Ramona Water District Financial Manager Ron Bement, who added that the rate hikes are due to wholesale increases from the SDCWA.

Also, in order to receive a 24 cent per unit discount, local agriculture users signed an agreement with the Ramona Municipal Water District that said they would reduce their water usage by 30 percent in the event of a major drought.

Bement said that the "ag-users" will probably be asked to comply with the terms of their agreement in January 2008, because rainfall is at an all-time low.

The January water rate hikes are in addition to the ones RMWD customers experienced in July, when rates increased from $2.16 per unit to $2.32 per unit for treated water, and from $1.56 per unit to $1.68 per unit for untreated water.

Additionally in July, San Vicente Sewer charges increased 1 percent from $438.76 to $443.87 while Santa Maria Sewer rates increased 5 percent from $437.91 to $458.93 annually. These rates are not expected to increase again in January 2008.

In July, the electrical rate increased from 35 cents per unit to 52 cents per unit. Bement says the rates are necessary for pumping water through pipelines and supporting boosters up the hill into Ramona.

Bement said residents should reduce landscape watering, which accounts for the majority of water usage. He also recommended that residents learn to read their water meters in an effort to control their bills.

A public hearing for the July 1 rate increase was held on June 26. There was no public hearing for the January rate increase, as it was approved at a water district board meeting held on Oct. 9.

For more information and an updated rates and fee schedule, visit www.rmwd.org.