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Antioch, California to Ration Water: Contra Costa Water District Wants 25% Water Allocation Reduction for Customers (MercuryNews)

Mar.23, 2009 in Water Conservation, Water Crisis

(March 22, 2009, The Mercury News)

As California’s drought continues, water rationing is becoming a reality in many cities — and Antioch is no exception.

On Tuesday, the City Council will be asked to weigh in on a water shortage contingency plan to cut consumption by an estimated 25 percent — the amount by which Antioch’s water provider, Contra Costa Water District, plans to reduce the city’s allocation.

An official water-conservation plan must be approved by the City Council and won’t go into effect until mid-May. But Antioch’s environmental resource coordinator, Julie Haas-Wajdowicz, said tentative plans will require residential customers to cut their water usage by 25 percent; industrial customers by 5 percent; commercial customers by 15 percent; and landscape/irrigation customers by 50 percent.

Customers will likely be assessed a fine or increased rate for overconsumption.

“We just have to be able to pay the penalties that the Contra Costa Water District puts on us,” Haas-Wajdowicz said.

She emphasized that customers are urged to lower their water use ahead of the summer peak and that the city’s primary focus will be encouraging less outdoor water use.

Oakley customers of the Diablo Water District will be asked to cut their consumption by 20 percent this summer.

Brentwood, which provides its own water to residents, will not implement rationing but is encouraging people to conserve whenever possible, said Assistant Public Works Director Paul Eldredge.Antioch charges a base rate of $8.32, plus $1.80 per 100 cubic feet of water, which equates to 748 gallons.

The city has had the lowest water service charge in East County, according to a comparison taken in late 2007, when Antioch’s base rate was $8.

At that point, Bay Point had the region’s highest base rate charge, at $23.70. Pittsburg’s was $16.20, and Brentwood’s was $15.95.

The low rate is a blessing for customers but can be seen as a curse from the conservation angle, Haas-Wajdowicz said.

“In general, Antioch water is pretty inexpensive and really isn’t viewed as an issue, and unfortunately it should be, and it’s going to have to be,” she said.

(Original Article Here)