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Published on 06/01/1998 All articles from this issue

Prepare for new water rates, flood protection charges starting July 1

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

To fund new programs for protecting Santa Clara County's drinking water supply, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors approved an 8 percent increase in the North County wholesale water rates May 26.

According to water district spokesman Mike Di Marco, the increase will mean approximately $1 more on monthly residential water bills. The five-year capital improvement program will result in a $5 to $6 increase in the monthly residential water bill, at the end of the five years.

The rate increase - the first since 1991 - is the initial step toward funding a five year $200 million capital improvement program aimed at upgrading the quality of drinking water at the district's three water treatment plants.

The costs of the capital improvement program will be included in the July 1 monthly California Water Service Company bill which supplies water to Los Altos, portions of Los Altos Hills and surrounding county homes.

"Although the water district has increased the wholesale water rate 8 percent, the effect on the residential user will be small," said Rob Guzzetta, vice president of engineering and water quality for Cal Water. "Cal Water has a $290-acre-foot charge for extracting water from underground wells, and a surcharge on water that goes through the district's water treatment plants. That minimizes the increase."

In 1997, Cal Water supplied 14,500 acre feet of water to the Los Altos-Los Altos Hills district. One acre foot equals 325,851 gallons.

The municipal and industrial (M&I) water rate in the south portions of Santa Clara County will remain the same as the past six years at $108 per-acre-foot which is primarily agricultural use. The M&I for the north county is increased from $240 per-acre-foot to $260 per-acre- foot. The new rates take effect July 1.

"Water rates are expected to gradually increase over the next five years in order to fund increasing water quality requirements. The new rates will help fund the district's efforts to protect local water supplies from the gasoline additive found in reservoirs and groundwater aquifers," Di Marco said.

The board of directors also agreed to increase benefit assessments by 3.1 percent. Assessment are annual charges to pay for continued flood management work through the county.

Minimum assessments for typical single-family homes next fiscal year will be $61.52 in the northwest zone. Assessments create a fund for comprehensive maintenance programs for streams that are improved for flood protection and flood related repairs.

In addition, each of the county's five flood control zones will be assessed the cost of repairing flood damage to district facilities from this year's El Niño storm season.