Gary in Murrieta wrote on Feb 18, 2008 9:37 PM:Look Out! We are going to get Screwed.

Floyd wrote on Feb 18, 2008 10:32 PM:How are they going to pay this fee increase? What tax are they going to reduce or eliminate to make up for the higher charge? How about eliminating the state's portion of the sales tax, currently 3.75%. Reducing the total sales tax from 7.75% to 4% would make it possible for us to pay all these new and growing fee-taxes.

Yokozuna wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:13 AM:After O'side just raised the water usage 28%...now another 14% from MWD? Time to go smelt fishing.

Give Me A Kiss wrote on Feb 19, 2008 6:09 AM:Right you are, Gary. I've been saying all along that all of the talk about a water crisis was just the foreplay.

Ken wrote on Feb 19, 2008 6:21 AM:Didn’t either of you two NOT expect the rates to go up? Water is a commodity just like oil—its scarcity demands the costs rise as it gets harder to come by. I’m just surprised it’s not a higher rate hike!

Jim wrote on Feb 19, 2008 6:28 AM:Well, what do the consumers expect? Remember, we live in a desert region. Two or three lush green golf courses in every community (using electricity to pump the water to the enormous sprinklers), most developments seem to have a big waterfall or other water feature spraying water in the air (requires electricity for pumping as well), every other home on most streets seems to have a pool and if there is a pool then most likely there is a decorative water fountain or waterfall in the yard as well.

People complain about the farmers using water. Last I looked they are growing food for consumption. Take away their water, they quit growing food and food prices sky rocket even more and the consumer complains yet even more! How does a waterfall, pool or lush green golf course provide food?

We get what we deserve.

oh,please wrote on Feb 19, 2008 7:19 AM:$1.50 a month and you people are acting like they just doubled your mortgage. With the dwindling amount of water out there, in a few years you'll look back and see how lucky you were to pay so little for water.

Ask wrote on Feb 19, 2008 7:27 AM:Get ready, costs in all sectors are going up.

just wait till you food prices go up again this year.

In 18 months, my company has raised prices 20%. Its also part of one of the larger food companies.

local wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:24 AM:I'm not sure why people are so devoted to grass lawns around here. Is it some middle class symbol, Midwest thing I don't get? Personally, I love the desert style yards in places like Palm Desert or some areas of Rancho Bernardo. I don't live in Cleveland and I don't want it to look like I do, but I know from talking to others I am in the minority on that!

Concerned-1 wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:35 AM:On Sunday I saw a guy spraying off his driveway with water. Sometimes a rate increase is the only thing that can get through to these knuckleheads.

Human wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:37 AM:Please whatever you do, don't stop bathing!

Nick wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:56 AM:To Local: From another "Local",here's a little clue for you, KIDS! Imagine that, some people actually have children and would like for them to have something to play on other them concrete, asphalt, rocks and dirt. You mention Palm Desert & Rancho Bernardo, funny, when I was growing up, that's where all the RETIRED people moved to to be AWAY from kids. Sure, things have changed, but not for the better. You want real change, how about Desalination in Carlsbad? You know, something that should have been built 20 years ago,
Cheers, Nick.

Gary in Murrieta wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:08 AM:Maybe it is time for me to mention that with our country's Open Borders Policy, we are gaining about 6,000 new people every day. When I grew up the National Population was about 200 million. Now we have passed 300 million and expect to add another 50 million in just the next 40 years. Immigration, both legal and illegal is driving this mess. Of course we are going to run out of water, electricity, gas, and infrastructure. That is until we learn how to make them.
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the resident population of the United States, projected to 02/19/08 at 17:06 GMT (EST+5) is 303,468,818. http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html

Bill 1 wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:37 AM:I the average increase is $1.50 that is 14.3% that means the average bill is about $11.50. I don't know anyone who has a bill even close to that low.

Ask wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:46 AM:Desal is not the answer.

Thats right, I forgot, just drill for more oil.

There is such a thing as synthetic.

gods rain & snow wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:55 AM:$1.50 a month on average increase? What are they putting in their water? scotch? My water bill is $90.00 a month in the winter when i water less. @14% that adds up to about $14.00 a month. We need the Hugo Chavez approach to common resources in this country. These infrastructures were Gov. subsidized where is Gov. when we need protection from price "extortion".

Cal wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:06 AM:When will you wussies fight the organizations that are screwing you!! Tell you what, why dont you all just send me 1/2 your money each week and I'll slap you silly and we'll call it even.

WaterSource wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:10 AM:Quagga has just arrived...give her a few more months...she lays a million eggs a year !

California....keep in mind that YOU have refused to investigate a new Source of fresh water that can yield ONE MILLION acre feet a year. Delivery of water from the Source is not affected by Ms. Quagga.

Just in case you missed the message....California has also been assured that the Source can solve your Salton Sea problem and restore the Colorado River Delta.

Does California really care....NOT !

In California...you can definitely lead a mule to water and watch it refuse to drink !

Happy Quagga party...

WaterSource waterrdw@yahoo.com

Nutz wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:18 AM:All the more reason to drink beer!

Dave wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:25 AM:It's a good thing we did not buy into Desal project!!!
Assuming that water costs $500 an acre foot, the average home uses 1/2 an acre foot. Your water costs $21 a month. Its your availability, sewer fees that cost to much.
I want to buy desal water, It cost $800 an acre foot. I can afford the $33 a month to keep my lawn green

Dan wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:38 AM:The $1.50 per month they're estimating is because we don't receive all of our water from MWD. The cost of the water received from them is going up by 14%, not your entire water bill.

What water? wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:50 AM:Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. What's wrong with washing down a driveway? Fix the leaks in your home! Use paper plates and utensils (we don't have a dishwasher). Oh, dear, will the trash fees go up if I put out another can? Synthetic turf is awesome. Of course you might gain weight not having to mow. Low flush? It's up to each individual/family re the coast of water THEY USE. Yes, some of us have already cut to the 'bone' our water use. Shorter showers, energy saver refrig, water heater, forget the ice maker, sprinklers that sprinkle where they SHOULD, drought resistant plantings, etc. Let the wealthy have their pools and fountains; why would you deny them? Oh, I have noticed way fewer drinking fountains in malls, pubic areas, etc. So folks have to carry their own water bottles. Collect rain water!

Bill 1 wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:07 AM:To Dan, that makes since now, thank you for clearing it up.

JSten wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:36 AM:Its unfortunate that so many have only a pratial picture of what is going on here. MWD sells to the SDCWA who in turn sells to your local water provider. Its like saying the price of fuel has a direct PROPORTIONAL effect on the price of postage. It has an effect to be sure but since your MWD part of the bill is a fraction of the total bill the increae should not be so dramatic.

What is interesting is that the farmers in northern california are paying only a fraction of what is paid in southern california for irrigation water.

Also I am mystified why peeople believe that any of this is related to taxes. These are commodity charges and will continue to be priced according to things other than as established by the legislature or local governments. The Water and Sewer Boards are required to self fund under the law, only some of the larger cities with their own water agencies can use hope the utilities to fund city operations (like parks and rec) which are supposed ot come from tax revenue funds.

But wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:49 AM:Deficits on the county level the state level & the national level. Is it just going to go away ? Taxes will have to be increased there`s no buts about it. So tighten your belts people cause the good times are over. But look on the bright side we still live in the best climate in the nation

DOODLEBAUM wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:54 AM:Cities continue to plant in medians and water the plants, rain or shine. There is no sincere effort to conserve, by anyone. Lots of hypocrisy out there. The delta smelt? How ridiculous is that?

Karl wrote on Feb 19, 2008 1:09 PM:The City of Escondido just installed a grassmedian on North Center City Parkway at the end of last year. Go figure.

Lathered Up wrote on Feb 19, 2008 1:34 PM:Save Water, Shower with a Friend.

Robert wrote on Feb 19, 2008 2:22 PM:Gee, Let me get this straight Gods rain&snow. Ninety dollars a month. That's Three dollars a day to drink, bathe, water the plants, wash your clothes,your dishes,your pet,and car. Sounds reasonable to me. Yes it is gods rain and snow and I think you should move somewhere you can harvest,store,process, and deliver it. As well as maintain the equipment and facility used in the process. Personally I'm thankful for the service provided me.

Carlsbad wrote on Feb 19, 2008 2:29 PM:Desalination is the answer. You have to be very naive to think conservation with a growing population will work. Drilling for more oil will work, so will more nuke plants. Stop burying your head in the sand.

DOODLEBAUM wrote on Feb 19, 2008 3:14 PM:Now we hear from a Carlsbad guy, crowing about their silly, pathetic experiment with desalinisation. That's far out. Yea, pie in the sky stuff. We can dream up all kinds of high tech solutions, but answers are needed FOR THE HERE AND NOW. In the meantime, CONSERVATION makes sense. At least that's what anybody that knows anything about the problem say.

Little wrote on Feb 19, 2008 3:49 PM:Have the community planners thought about this before they approve another 500+ housing community? I doubt it. Gas is scarce, water is scarce, while cars and houses with lawns are more than plentiful...

Reardon wrote on Feb 19, 2008 4:55 PM:Supply and demand...the problem is supply.

We can start solving the water shortage by replacing all of those elected water boards with private enterprise.

If General Motors was delivering water to San Diego County, can you picture them advertising, “Please buy less of our product!”?

GM’s profit would drop, their stock would fall, and their CEO would be collecting unemployment.

A private water system would find water sources, because their stock prices would rise with newly found sources, and the private company would prosper. As it stands, employees of the government-run system continue to collect their salaries whether a drop of water is delivered or not.

If water was a profit-making process, there would be giant, encapsulated icebergs floating toward Southern California.

Hombre Viejo wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:01 PM:Long term, there isn't much hope for more water for San Diego county.
One thing constructive would be to re-examine and survey your aquifer regions, pump those for fill-ins. One good candidate is the Poway Basin. It has a volcanic shield on part of it.
Probably holds 0ver 1200 acre feet of water still, though it varies with rainfall. Also loaded with TDS, but still may be useable.

Just wait wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:04 PM:No worries folks! More water, energy and housing are on the way! Less traffic too! Courtesy of H5N1 (avain flu) virus. 60% mortality. We're just waiting for that sucker to mutate into a form form that transmits human-to-human. Yeah, the first few years will suck, but if you win the genetic lottery, you might end up with one of those ocean front homes!

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm

to reardon wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:08 PM:Er, you mean like Evian, Fiji, Crystal Gyser, Kirkland, Hawaii, Poland Spring? Last I checked, the free market for water was alive and well, but not driving down cost.

To karl wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:30 PM:Where the grass was planed in Escondido, it is watered by reclaimed water. not the same as tap water you drink at home.

Reardon wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:56 PM:Yes, the bottled water scam is alive (it is mostly just conveniently packaged tap water), but private delivery of large amounts by private enterprise is stalled or banned. The private attempt to bring desalinization has been going through hurdles, both legal and governmental for many years, and there is not a dime of tax money involved! The latest lawsuit contends that returning sea salt to the ocean is pollution! With governmental water, when the flow decreases, the staffs remain the same, so the price per unit increases – economic insanity! Government has no incentive to find and deliver more product!

country bum wrote on Feb 19, 2008 6:33 PM:It's obvious some folks never read their water bills. The cost of water is probably the smallest amount on most bills. My latest (Valley Center MWD) was $52 of which only $3.70 was for water. The rest was Infrastructure Access Charge, Pumping Fees and Monthly Water Service ($42). $1.50 would be nearly a 40% increase in my water cost but hardly noticeable on my bill. I'm sure they will find a way to increase the rest though so hang in there.

Karl wrote on Feb 19, 2008 7:18 PM:To "To karl" Understood, but the fact remains whether it is "clean" or "dirty" water we as citizens are being urged to conserve. Why isn't the City leading by example?

To oh,please wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:34 PM:I think it is the title of the story people are responding to "Big water-rate hike on the way". Perhaps you should direct your comments towards the NCT or the writer. After all who gets past the first few lines anyway? LOL