Water Rates

OH ! OH ! We received a notice of public hearing from the Borrego Water District regarding water and sewer rate increases. The date of the hearing...June 22, 2011. Too bad...the snow birds have flown, summer vacations are underway and Borregans have almost settled in for another tranquil summer. Once again, we must face water issues!

Three new Water Board Directors were elected after a bitter battle. Meetings were held and petitions distributed. It seems that the reserve funds of the District need to be replenished. Both fixed charges and rate charges are slated to increase. Fixed charge for a 3/4 inch meter, now, $19.58/ mo. will increase to $25.45 /mo. Fixed charge for a 1" meter-now, $28.62/ mo.will increase to $37.21 in 2012. Tier 1 winter units ( 45 units ) are now $1.02.(in ID-1). They will increase to $1.46 in 2012. Tier 1 summer units ( 55 ) are now $1.02. In 2012, they will be $1.46/ unit. Remember, a unit is 748 gallons. The proposed fees include the power fee and the groundwater management fee. We live in ID-4, currently paying $1.12/ unit. ( tier1 ) Our increased rate will be $1.46/ unit...a difference of $ .34. Take some old bills and you can estimate what your payments will be. Do the same for tier 2 and realize that it pays to be water thrifty!

Water problems are nothing new. Battles have been fought and people killed over that valuable commodity. Here, in the Borrego Springs, we depend on an aquifer for our water. As residents of this unique community, we all need to take part in making sure wise decisions are made.

And, all of us need to do our part to make sure Borrego continues to flourish. Desert landscape can be captivating or just dust, rocks and gravel. We are desert gardeners! The challenges are many, but the rewards are great...We plan our landscape with water as the focus...smart irrigation, plants inured to the region, use of natives, mulching, composting and more. Our vegetables and fruit taste all the sweeter due to the care we have given them. They will still thrive and desert gardens shall still be beautiful even as we strive to conserve even more!