COUNTYWIDE : Water District Raises Rates, Urges Saving

The board of Ventura County’s largest water district has increased water rates and urged its customers to conserve water.

The Calleguas Municipal Water District Board of Directors endorsed a call last week by the Metropolitan Water District, its supplier, for cities and smaller districts to encourage voluntary conservation immediately. Directors also discussed the possibility of mandatory rationing.

Calleguas provides water to Moorpark, Simi Valley, the Conejo and Santa Rosa valleys, Camarillo and Oxnard. It receives, stores and distributes Northern California water sent south through the California Aqueduct.

The rate increase, imposed at a meeting Wednesday and effective July 1, results in $271 an acre-foot for municipal and industrial use, up from the current rate of $261; $217 an acre-foot for agricultural use, up from $207; and $159 an acre-foot for seasonal storage, up from $152.

“We have enough water this year, but if the drought goes into a fourth year we could be short 3,000 acre-feet,� said James A. Hubert, Calleguas engineer-manager.

“The district might have to take mandatory measures and would closely examine water use by agriculture, industry and the home consumer,� he said.

Cities may have to impose ordinances such as the one recently enacted in Santa Barbara, Hubert said. MWD has urged all cities and districts using its water to prepare mandatory rationing plans to be used if needed.

One alternative discussed was charging customers on a sliding scale, Hubert said.

“It might require that if consumers went beyond an allotted amount, say three times--I don’t know--I guess water would be shut off,� Hubert said.