Opinion

Tuesday, Jun. 09, 2009

Editorial: Water rate hikes need approval

It would be unwise to hope for another ‘March Miracle’

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Memories may be short, but we’re betting that many readers have vivid recollections of the “March Miracle” that ended a severe drought here 18 years ago.

For those who weren’t in the area, here’s a recap: San Luis Obispo was at the height of an extended drought. Mandatory rationing was in effect, yet the city was still in danger of running out of water. Then the skies opened, and 13 inches of rain fell.

Happy end of story, but the epilogue is even better: After living through the drought, local leaders in several communities found the political will to pursue new sources of water — an insurance policy, if you will, to protect residents from future water emergencies.

We now have that insurance in the form of the Nacimiento Water Project — and the time has come to pay for that policy.

On Thursday night, the San Luis Obispo City Council will hold a public hearing on proposed water- and sewer-rate increases that will, among other things, help pay the city’s share of the Nacimiento project. But if more than half of the ratepayers protest the fee increases, the city cannot adopt them.

We strongly urge residents not to oppose these increases.

While no one likes to see utilities bills go up, these are not particularly onerous increases, especially for those who make reasonable efforts to conserve water. The typical family of four will see its bills increase around $10 per month this year.

Specifically, that family’s water bill will go up 12 percent this year — to $52.80 per month, from the current $47.15. There will be another 11 percent increase in 2010, bringing the average water bill to $58.60.

The sewer bill will increase around 9.3 percent this year, bringing it to $52.41 this year, and another 9 percent next year, raising the average bill to $57.09.

Keep in mind, that’s for the typical household; the exact amount of the increase will depend on how much water a customer uses.

Use a lot, and you’ll get dinged with higher bills, but if you’re miserly in your water usage, that will pay off with lower utility bills. We believe that’s eminently fair, especially in drought-prone California.

Think about it: Why should you pay the same rate as your neighbors who constantly forget to turn off their garden sprinklers, or the family down the street that runs two or three half-loads of laundry every day and takes 20-minute showers?

Bottom line: Heavy water users will continue to pay the consequences, but for the average ratepayers, these water increases are reasonable, especially when you consider what that money will buy: Improvements to the city’s water system, upgrades for the aging wastewater treatment plant and of course, the Nacimiento Water Project.

City officials were wise to have the foresight to provide insurance against the next drought, which — guess what? — is already here. Now it’s time to support that decision by allowing the rate increases to take effect.