Our General Manager, Jerry Holldber, feels that we should stay in Stage I water conservation, which is voluntary compliance. However, some people question why, with all the rain and snow we have been having, don't we just drop out of Stage I. We would like to find out just how you, our customers, feel about this.
To refresh your memory, in Stage I we ask for voluntary compliance. Customers are asked to conserve, when possible, the amount of water that is used for necessary domestic and business purposes. We ask that they fix leaky plumbing, prevent irrigation runoff, refrain from washing down sidewalks, driveways and parking areas. Avoid sprinkling unplanted areas for dust control. We encourage our customers to utilize wood chips, which we are giving away FREE, and mulch around all plants and trees to minimize outside watering.
Water rates remain the same as when we are not in any stage alert up until the 4th tier which is 18,000 to 24,000 gallons. In that tier the rates go from $5.50 per thousand gallons to $6.00 per thousand gallons. Tier 5 is 24,000 gallons to 30,000 gallons and rises from $7.00 per thousand gallons to $9.50 per thousand gallons. The last tier is over 30,000 gallons and that price jumps from $8.00 per thousand gallons to $14.00 per thousand gallons.
The vast majority of our customers use less than 18,000 gallons per billing period. The three highest rates affect only about 2% of our customers. 98% of our customers are not financially penalized in any way by the water district being in Stage I Water Conservation.
Being in Stage I also brings awareness to our customers of the need to conserve. By law, being in Stage I also gives us the right to offer rebates on things like low flow toilets. If we drop out of Stage I, then a Public Hearing must be held if we need to go back into Stage I in the future.
Staying in Stage I does not mean we are out of water or are going to be running out soon. It makes people aware of the need to be careful with our water so that we have all we need, now and in the future. It does not create any hardships for the majority of our customers and the water district is not making money off of it. Just the opposite in fact. The more people conserve, the less revenue the water district takes in.
But even though it affects our bottom line, we still feel that conserving water now and in the future, is the responsible thing for us to be helping our customers do. We care about Pine Cove, the environment and our customers. Conserving now assures us of a good water supply in the future. By conserving, being aware of our water situation, staying vigilant, and looking at alternative water sources such as rain water harvesting, we would hope to put off having to go to the more drastic stages of Mandatory Compliance in a Stage II situation or worse, Stage III, which is Mandatory Emergency Restrictions. Waiting until things are getting desperate to move into a Conservation Stage is not good water management.
We feel that we are doing what is right for the district and for our customers by staying in Stage I for now. What do you think? We want to hear from YOU!! Please leave a message here on the blog or email us at Jerry@pcwd.org. Call Becky or Vicki at 951-659-2675. Write us a letter and mail it to PO Box 2296, Idyllwild CA 92549 or drop it off at the office, located at 24917 Marion Ridge Rd. Tell us what you think and why. Are you concerned with the future of Pine Cove, our earth, the environment? Do you think conservation efforts are worth while? Do you think you have an adequate water supply for your needs? We will be waiting to hear your thoughts.
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