District to make wasting water costly

By: NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | Monday, December 17, 2007 11:02 PM PST ∞

TEMECULA -- The Rancho California Water District will ring in 2008 with a conservation policy that could prove costly for customers who water without restraint.

Beginning Jan. 1, customers who use a high volume of water on landscaping and do not improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems or modify their practices will be charged increased rates.

The water district -- which serves a 150-square-mile area that encompasses Temecula, parts of Murrieta and other areas -- now has a two-tier rate structure for water used in landscaping. But in response to a need for long-term water conservation, a third tier will be added to the rate structure with the goal of promoting conservation.

"Through the rates, we're trying to show that we need reductions in water use. It's not just in agriculture; we need reductions throughout," said Meggan Reed, spokeswoman for the district. "Water is a precious commodity in Southern California. The area will continue to grow and we need to be prepared for extra demand."

Reed said there are 1,000 landscaping customers who together use about 6,256 acre-feet -- 2.03 billion gallons -- of potable water a year. Reed said about 29 percent of those customers use more than 200 percent of their allotted water supply. Customers are typically allotted 2 acre-feet ---- 651,702 gallons ---- of water for each acre that is irrigated. An acre-foot is the amount it would take to cover a property about the size of a football field with one foot of water.

She said if those customers would adhere to the guideline, it would free up about 3.25 million gallons of water that could be used for drinking, washing and cooking.

Customers who don't stick to their allotment will be charged on the third tier of the rate structure at $428 per acre-foot, up from the $332 per acre-foot they now pay, she said.

Reed said the third tier will mostly affect golf courses, cemeteries and parks. Customers who use recycled water would not be affected by the new policy.

Bill Plummer, a Rancho California board member since 2005 who has been selected to serve as the its president in 2008, said the landscaping policy is equitable for all customers as it is based on a percentage of water use for a property, and not total volume.

"If you own acres or a residential house, it will cost you if you choose to overwater," he said.

Plummer said there are multiple factors contributing to the need for water conservation. He said that besides increased demand, the supply is shrinking due to drought conditions in the West, and environmental issues in the Sacramento Delta region that have reduced the amount of water drawn from that source. The Rancho California district buys a majority of its water from Metropolitan Water District, which derives much of its supply from the Sacramento Delta.

"Those things are impacting those who depend on imported water, and that's us," he said.

While water conservation policies have been imposed on agricultural and landscaping customers, so far residential and commercial customers have not been affected by cutbacks. However, that may also change if the water issues stay on track in the next year.

"Unless we receive significant rain and snowfall, we might be looking at mandatory reductions for commercial and residential customers this summer," Plummer said. "Nothing has been developed in the way of policy, but contingency plans may be needed to get us through the shortfall."

The district is offering free usage evaluations through the district's Targeted Water Conservation Program. Landscape customers that would like more information or are interested in a water-use evaluation should contact Valley Soil Inc. at (951) 767-2215.

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.

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