New water bills coming down the pipe





The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District approved rate increases for potable and recycled water and sewer services that will take effect Jan. 1.

Under the new billing, property owners will receive a water budget with a monthly allotments that depends on factors such as lot size, landscaping, number of occupants and the presence of livestock. Allotments will change from month to month to reflect seasonal needs for outdoor watering.

District officials say the new plan will encourage efficient water use. The individualized water budgets recognize that all customers have different needs that vary from season to season.

They also say the plan will help LVMWD recoup its rising wholesale cost and the expense needed to operate a water treatment and distribution system that serves 65,000 customers in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and surrounding unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

“Those who are wasteful will bear the additional cost that their high water use demands on the system,” LVMWD general manager David Pedersen said at a water hearing Oct. 26.

Over the past year, the district hosted half a dozen meetings and workshops to inform ratepayers about the new billing system.

Herb Eckerling, who lives in Morrison Ranch, expressed concerns about the rising cost of water and sanitation services.

Water use is down, but bills are going up, he said.

“How do you intend to keep this fair so that people don’t pay more for less?” Eckerling said.

Another speaker, who has lived in Agoura Hills for 24 years, said he’s taken steps to conserve, yet his water bills have doubled in the last 10 years.

“Clearly there is no justification to a rate increase,” the resident said.

Pedersen said keeping rates low has been a challenge for water agencies throughout California.

LVMWD must cover both fixed costs and variable costs. A reduction in water consumption does not mitigate those costs.

But, Pedersen said, “If you do reduce your water usage, you will pay less, not more.”

With regard to sanitation fees, Pedersen said the district faces mounting costs because it must meet state guidelines to treat wastewater before it is released into Malibu Creek.

Under the new billing system, customers with smaller households will see a reduction in their sanitation rate.

Hal Helsley, a former water district board member, praised LVMWD officials for their work. Although few residents seem concerned about the change at the present time, he said, the true test will be when the ratepayers receive their allotments.

Board member Glen Peterson said the district worked hard to create a new rate system that will reward people who conserve.

“To me it is a good solution. . . . This will be a very fair rate structure,” Peterson said.

Directors will review the need for rate increases in each of the next five years as they consider the rising cost of wholesale water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, LVMWD’s supplier.



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