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Is ’severe drought’ just a chance to hike water rates? Residents wonder
June 4th, 2009, 4:00 am · 28 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
Several perplexed readers are struggling with a fundamental disconnect:
- Southern California is in the grips of a severe water shortage. Water rates are rising to encourage conservation. Residents are urged to cut back on use.
- Yet cities like Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Irvine and Fullerton press ahead with plans for water-intensive development of new hotels, housing, and - this is our favorite! - even a water park.
Jay Zaiden of Huntington Beach is flummoxed. “If the water shortage is so acute, then why are all the cities and counties and state still issuing new building permits for companies to build whatever they want without any concern for burden on the infrastructure?” he asked.
“In Huntington Beach, we’re being told we have to cut back on our water use and we can’t wash our cars or water our grass during certain hours and yet, down the street, they have all these resorts being built with multiple swimming pools and hundreds of rooms. The water shortage can’t be as acute as they say it is, or they wouldn’t be continuing to build.”
Don Clark of Garden Grove finds himself wondering the same things. His city gave the green light to a 600-room hotel with a 3-acre attached water park, to be used exclusively by the hotel’s guests. (Garden Grove will gift the land t the developer - and spend $5 million on a parking structure. The project is expected to return about $5.2 million to city coffers.)
“They continue building and don’t show any foresight as far as water is concerned,” Clark said. “Seems like they’re more interested in the tax money rather than taking care of the people that elected them. Have they ever thought about a moratorium?”
Welllll…not so much. Growth. Important to the economy and all. Consider:
- In 1999, the Metropolitan Water District - SoCal’s key water supplier - sold 1.6 million acre feet of water to some 16 million people.
- This year, it will sell 1.85 million acre feet of water to some 18 million people. (That’s 16 percent more water and 12.5 percent more people).
Building plans proceed, even as water rates rise: Irvine recently unveiled plans for the Irvine Business Complex, which would include nearly 6,000 new housing units; Huntington approved 111 homes near Bolsa Chica; and in Fullerton, all systems are go for a $140 million student housing project.
We’ve invited the cities to respond and wax poetic on that delicate balance that must be struck between development and wise use of our resources; read their responses by clicking here.
Zaiden, however, will be hard to convince.
“I look at this as just a money-maker for the different municipalities to charge more money for water, which we know will never come down again in price,” he said. “All this stuff to drive price of water up, and at same time force conservation is fine. But don’t treat us like we’re fat dumb and happy and don’t know any better about what’s really going on.”
What California needs to do, Zaiden (and quite a host of others!) says, is to increase water supply if it’s going to continue to build. In Arizona, he points out, folks putting up luxury homes in the desert have to build their own water tanks or sink their own wells. In the Middle East, desalination plants are common. “But don’t go building a water park in Garden Grove and then telling people in downtown Huntington Beach that you can’t wash your car on Saturday. Hello? What am I missing here?”
More Watchdog:
- Drought-induced building freeze not necessary - yet, officials say
- No-puppy-mill and spay-neuter bills progress in Sacramento
- Millions misspent by state insurance agency, and nobody cares, OC attorney says
- Brown sues to shut down five O.C. charities
- Management company calls us names, defends ‘mystery’ incentive program
- Maddening DMV glitch fixed, state says - but it’s too late for Irvine man
- Addiction center suffers from flawed state investigation, attorney says
- Irvine will spend $275,000 to expand vintage aircraft collection
- Mystery incentive program cost Laguna Woods Village seniors $5.4 million
- San Onofre performance will improve, officials vow
- Wow! Cost of mothballing nuclear reactor rivals cost of building it
- Bad timing: State slices program that helps schools slice costs
- Conflict? Councilwoman backs $24 million tax break for upscale hotel near her upscale bar
- Sweetheart deal for company headed by former Caltrans official?
- Push for more local water leads to hefty $204,000 fine. Unfair?
- State water board will think harder about $204,000 fine
- Former Anaheim city manager hits jackpot with pension
- “Free” credit report costs Orange woman $832
- Retired Vernon official collects a $500K pension–while under indictment
- Did fired OC air marshal endanger flying public, or protect it?
- How did consultant’s $15 million job morph into $126 million job?
- Torture memo’s author may face discipline from state bar
- Kills double at OC’s largest “pro-humane” animal shelter
- Former Garden Grove police chief gets house arrest for embezzlement
- As San Onofre struggles with errors, NRC scrutiny picks up
- Oops. State employees wasted millions, auditor says
- Laguna Woods approves OC’s first mandatory spay-neuter law
- State considers ban on big screen TVs
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California does NOT have a water issue, they have a SPENDING issue. Since the taxpayers recently voted down the state propositions, the government is now coming for the money through higher fees on utilities such as water.
Shortly following the special election, the SMWD sent a letter out informing its customers of water and sewer rate increase and potential rate increases coming in the future. They attribute these rate increases to the state’s failure over the DECADES to develop and sustain existing water supplies and a recent court decision to PROTECT FISH and now we have to purchase our water from a more expensive source.
Furthermore, in the letter they outline specifically how the additional revenue will be used. Stupid me, I thought it was being used to purchase water… Guess not. Apparently, the extra revenue will be used for operating costs, system improvements and payment of BONDS, state revolving LOAN PROGRAMS and SPECIAL PROJECTS.
If you haven’t heard or read about the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, I suggest visiting the website http://www.resources.ca.gov/bdcp/ . This is a perfect example of how the state of California wastes billions of dollars by electing officials who are paid for environmental radicals with no common sense.
It’s time that we start electing officials who realize that spending billions of dollars to save a few species in the Delta, does not make economic sense when you are talking water usage for millions of residents, businesses and farmers throughout the state.
I would like to see how less government spending would magically fill up the reservoirs, now at historical lows.
I hear you on this one… I drive around fullerton and see the citys water going all the time even when it is raining they are using water…
The city needs to cut back like every one else if we are realy on a water usegae…. … Yea dont treat us like we are stupid.. We all just didnt fall off the turnup truck yesterday…
Hello… .Wake up….
smells like bs to me.
Excellent article Teri. It is an outrage that city planners are encouraging growth and increases the population while at the same time telling residents to cut back on water. What is the eventual outcome of this kind of strategy? People will be backed into a corner where we are left with one cup of water per day for drinking and bathing. How can you have any kind of conservation without controlling both parts of the equation - consumption AND the number of people (and infrastructure) who are doing the consuming. Did the government planners pass their grade school arithmetic classes?
water should NOT be privatized!!!!!!!!
I’ve said this for years. Especially when tax revenues are way down all the water districts are playing up this water shortage to add more money to the coffers. The forecast is for a wet winter in 2009-10. But when the reservoirs are brimming with water do you think you will see the water rates come down? Not a chance in hades. Have you EVER seen the water rates come down when we had abundant rainfall in southern cal? Even when we were flooded in years gone by? Never! It’s all a hoax to take more money from your wallet and put it into their account. And the buildup of infrastructure that will put even added pressure on the water supply is indeed more evidence that it’s another big scam. Contact your local water departments and demand no increase in your rates! Let them know that you’re onto the scam.
Hey guys, I have been whining about the 14 THOSAND homes planned off Ortega near Ladera Ranch in south Orange County. They do think we are fat and dumb. Don’t miss the obvious. We are sitting on one of the largest bodies around. It is the Pacific Ocean. Representative John Campbell pulled an earmark from a bill because the GOP was trying to show they meant business about those and to start curb spending and prove they were serious. It was to approve a desalination plant at Doheny. I live there and did not even know it was on the table yet alone being put in a Congressional bill. This is how it works. It was taken out, for now. You see, I believe that if we get used to high prices, it will be an easy sale for the expense of water that is desalinated. I am so sick of how stupid they all think we are.
The biggest crisis we face is GOVERNMENT! Overspending over-taxation and a erosion of civil liberties and freedoms that made this country great!
Slouch, you nailed it!
So if we paid less taxes and have less government the reservoirs where our water comes from will magically fill up with water again? Even if we took back our freedom from our oppressive, democratically elected government, I doubt we will be rewarded by bountiful snows and rains.
Water is the next oil.
Lots of good things said in the comments. But problem is people, as a mass, just don’t really care. They accept this nonsense and many support it!
Just another tax. I was wondering how long it would take before they raised water costs.
Think about it, the Government is trying to tax people on air; albeit called carbon emissions.
If there’s a water shortage, then why aren’t we building a desalinization plant? Why aren’t we stopping all building permits? And yes, I’ll say it, why aren’t we putting the kabash on illegal residents of this state?
The last time they tried to make everyone cutback on water use - due to a “drought” - they wanted to raise the rates because we weren’t using enough water to pay all those nice salaries and benefits. I for one am doing my part in keeping the rates low for everyone - 30 minute showers.
we have a gov. problem. need less of it.
Is ’severe drought’ just a chance to hike water rates?
Yes.
It is always scare tactics to get more money out of the taxpayers. The Metropolitan Water District charges higher rates to the areas perceived as “affluent” and gives inner city residents a much lower rate. Not that the inner city residents conserve more water. Rather it is just a political ploy from the left wing socialists who want to charge the rich (read Orange County) and give to the poor (read entitlements to minorities) in Los Angeles areas.
no wonder california is drowning in debt! Pure BS
Water demand has risen due to (il)legal immigration. Enforce immigration law and building and residency codes before raising my rates!
Why don’t you check out the salaries of your local water district’s management? Water is the new oil. The quasi-government employees are acting like members of a cartel! Funny that the water supply has nothing to do with their pay hikes and bonuses. In wet times or dry you can count on your water management team to be swimming in pools of your tax dollars. NEVER will you see them take a pay cut to deal with falling revenue. Nope. They will dream up reasons for YOU to pay more. And at the same time justify a nice pay raise for themselves. ha. So predictable.
I received Southern California Water Company’s Notice of Proposed Staged Mandatory Rationing Plan (Advice Letter #1328W) in the mail yesterday. I plan to submit a formal Protest/Response to the CPUC according to the instructions included with the letter. Here’s why: In plentiful years and shortage years my household has always been water conservative as backed by billed usage over a long period. My gripe is that the SCWC’s plan is to assess each customer’s water usage history over a selected 3 year period to come up with my use average. In stages, the SCWC’s proposal says that my household will be allocated a reduced percentages of water that I will be allowed to use without penalty based on this prior use period average. Here’s the problem: I will be getting nailed for having a history of water conservation. I will get a much smaller allocation than my neighbors who have fallen into the habit of water waste. I would be hard pressed to save much more than I am already saving, while the traditional water wasters only have to stop their wasteful ways. It is my contention that the relief requested by SCWC in the advice letter to the CPUC is unjust / discriminatory because of this. I can’t be the only one in this situation knowing that there is real probability that my family may take a royal screwing on this.
There isn’t a water shortage, there is a glut of home building.
Pass laws that prevent any building plan that does not provide NEW sources of water, and don’t tap into existing water sources.
Pool construction also.
Gypsum Canyon, Garden Grove Hotel/Water park, Irvine Lake, Irvine/Laguna, Mission Viejo ranch.
These areas cannot be built with the current water situation and should not be built period!
City and County government has been overcharging for water for years now. They have been using the money to pay for pay increases that the government workers have been getting.
As citizens we are not getting any resonable value for the so-called services we are paying for from government.
Most of the money that goes to government is just wasted on salaries, pensions and benefits for the elite workers of government.
Of course this is an excuse to charge more. And there is zero you can do about it because those on the water boards are elected and therefore are politicians.
You will be required to use less and pay more.
But your local poltician will do nothing because they all scratch each others backs.
Please refer to this article from December 2008;
http://sciencedude.freedomblogging.com/2008/12/19/storms-drop-44-billion-gallons-into-oc-water-supply/11518/
I heard a comment recently from someone on a water rate committee in a OC city. Something relative to the rate increase from the Met Water Dist., saying that the water really wasn’t ours anyway so we shouldn’t be too upset about the rising costs. Well, Northern California has not Ceded from the state of California yet (and since So Cal pays most of the taxes in the state they probably won’t cede) so therefore whatever is in the whole state belongs to all the people in the state, it doesn’t “belong” to anyone in Northern Cal, which by the way, is not having a water shortage. Ship it down dirt bags, I guess they think the Met Water District works for Northern Cal and So Cal can afford to pay the rate increases. Just call So Cal the doormat of the state.
Bla bla bla taxation!
Yadda yadda liberal mumbo jumbo.
Civil rights this, left/right wing that.
Just put in a desalination plant and shut these limbah listeners up.
We can put the desalination plant on the board. We can put an obstacle course for the illegals. As they run accross it, they’ll be powering up the plant.
It’s a win win!