| | Published March 13th, 2013
| Orindans Informed Water Rates Likely to Rise
| | By Laurie Snyder | | |
At the March 5 Orinda City Council meeting, Orindans received word of another potential rate hike in their future when an East Bay Municipal Utility District representative delivered the frustrating news that it, too, has infrastructure nearing the end of its lifespan.
EBMUD Vice President Katy Foulkes recapped 10 years of district achievements - reinforcement of the San Pablo Dam and aqueducts carrying water from the Sierras, shoring up Delta levees, seismically reinforcing the Claremont Tunnel and Southern Loop, and finishing the $460 million Freeport Regional Water Project. "During the past five years, we have replaced 32 miles of pipe," said Foulkes, adding that EBMUD hopes to replace another 50 miles within five years.
EBMUD'S network - with infrastructure elements dating back to the 1870s - is comprised of five water treatment plants, 156 reservoir tanks, 145 pumping plants, and 29 dams. Most of the 4,200 miles of distribution pipelines and 270 miles of aqueduct pipes are now more than 50 years old. While worn gears are nothing new, what is stunning is that some parts are so prehistoric that replacements no longer exist.
On top of that, customer conservation coupled with the drought and tanking economy has hurt EBMUD's income. "Today we have fewer industrial customers, all customers are using less water per day, and there is no growth in the customer base," explained Foulkes.
EBMUD held off on staff wage increases for two years and froze $30 million in vacant jobs, postponed $77 million in capital projects, restructured $33 million in debt, and cut discretionary spending by $5 million. "As a result, our rates are among the lowest in the Bay Area" - the third lowest among northern California's 13 largest water agencies. EBMUD also still retains a Triple A rating. "But we've been put on notice that our ratings may be in jeopardy if we do not show a balanced budget," she stated.
So the board decided that it must hike fees. A notice of proposed utility rate increases will be sent to ratepayers and property owners by April 26. A public hearing will then be held June 11; utility bills will announce the location. Written protests should be delivered at the meeting or via mail before that time.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA