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Water surcharges reduced
Some Parker residents will pay less for water starting next month.
By By: Chris Michlewicz
Some Parker residents will pay less for water starting next month.
The Parker Water and Sanitation District Board decided at a meeting Dec. 11 to reduce drought surcharges. The charges were implemented in August 2002 because of water conservation efforts.
The surcharges affected the top two tiers of consumers but did not impact the customers who fell into the lowest bracket of water use. The second tier consumers, who use 20,001-30,000 gallons per month, will receive a 25 percent reduction from the full drought surcharge rate.
The third tier customers, who use 30,001 gallons of water or more, will also see a 25 percent decrease, lowering the charge from $8.04 per 1,000 gallons to $6.03. The new charges will go into effect Jan. 1, 2004.
"Our customers have done a great job of conserving water and easing demand on the entire system," district manager Frank Jaeger said.
There was a 40 percent reduction in water use over the last year, which was a big factor in the board's decision. Jaeger said this number shows that people are aware of the drought and are cutting back.
"We were in a situation where people were ignoring rates and using as much as they wanted," Jaeger said.
The board decided that the drought has eased enough to lower rates, but not to eliminate them. Jaeger said conservation efforts should continue to "help preserve the aquifer and manage water resources."
He said the recent precipitation is allowing the board to reduce the surcharges and ease the burden on customers, particularly homeowners associations and businesses.
Jaeger suggests that landscaping be minimized because it accounts for more than 50 percent of the town's water use. He emphasized the use of Xeriscaping, a system that uses drought-tolerant plants.
The Parker Water and Sanitation District Board decided at a meeting Dec. 11 to reduce drought surcharges. The charges were implemented in August 2002 because of water conservation efforts.
The surcharges affected the top two tiers of consumers but did not impact the customers who fell into the lowest bracket of water use. The second tier consumers, who use 20,001-30,000 gallons per month, will receive a 25 percent reduction from the full drought surcharge rate.
The third tier customers, who use 30,001 gallons of water or more, will also see a 25 percent decrease, lowering the charge from $8.04 per 1,000 gallons to $6.03. The new charges will go into effect Jan. 1, 2004.
"Our customers have done a great job of conserving water and easing demand on the entire system," district manager Frank Jaeger said.
There was a 40 percent reduction in water use over the last year, which was a big factor in the board's decision. Jaeger said this number shows that people are aware of the drought and are cutting back.
"We were in a situation where people were ignoring rates and using as much as they wanted," Jaeger said.
The board decided that the drought has eased enough to lower rates, but not to eliminate them. Jaeger said conservation efforts should continue to "help preserve the aquifer and manage water resources."
He said the recent precipitation is allowing the board to reduce the surcharges and ease the burden on customers, particularly homeowners associations and businesses.
Jaeger suggests that landscaping be minimized because it accounts for more than 50 percent of the town's water use. He emphasized the use of Xeriscaping, a system that uses drought-tolerant plants.
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