Guest Opinion: Why Should EWUA Charge Higher Fees for Guest Houses?

— from Michael Riordan —

What some people seem to be missing in the current debate over EWUA policies is recognition of the many beneficial impacts this water system has on Eastsound and surrounding areas. We take it for granted that the system will always work fine, but without frequent repairs and timely upgrades, it won’t.

Despite its panoramic views, my property would be nearly worthless without the reliable source of good-quality water EWUA provides. And I’m not about to drill hundreds of feet in hopes of establishing my own supply. Having done this once in California, I don’t ever want to repeat that anxious, arduous, expensive experience. I’d rather pay experienced professionals to provide my water service.

EWUA also ensures that in July and August — when the island population doubles, tourists throng Eastsound, and we are watering our gardens and lawns almost daily — there is an adequate supply to meet these needs. This peak demand comes at a time of little rain and low water supplies.

The guest houses at the focus of the current debate are most likely to be occupied at that time, too, so EWUA has to be able to provide water to them at a time of highest demand. From data Paul Kamin showed me recently, properties with guest houses consume on average over 70 percent more water annually than those without. And that excess usage almost certainly is even greater during the summer months.

Meeting that peak demand means added capital costs for increased water supply, storage and distribution. To me, it seems fair that properties with guest houses be required to pay additional hookup fees because they represent a significant part of this peak-demand problem. That is state Department of Health policy, too, which EWUA has to follow, but it requires only an extra 50 percent hookup fee for a guest house, while most comparable water services in these islands double it.

As Paul has repeatedly stated, EWUA doesn’t sell water, it provides a service. Besides making sure members have reliable water, that service includes installing and maintaining fire hydrants throughout the area, and insuring they have adequate pressure. When View Haven experienced a major house fire earlier this year, one of those hydrants — and the EWUA water storage tank near my house — provided almost 20,000 gallons of water to help control it. People with adjacent properties, mine included, really appreciated that water was readily available in ample supply.

This is not to say that EWUA service could not be improved — especially in the area of member relations. But doing that better will likely add to the quarterly bills that some members are complaining about. From what I can determine from its records, EWUA runs a fairly lean operation serving nearly 1000 members based on a budget of under a million dollars per year and having fewer than 10 equivalent FTEs.

The recent roll-out of the reduced guest-house fee is a good example of the need for improvements. I’d bet that EWUA Board and Director thought they were making a generous offer in hopes of getting many more guest-house owners into compliance, but it sure didn’t come across this way among affected members.

That also points to the need for greater transparency. From my vantage point, the EWUA Board and Director seem to be operating like a closed professional club when a more open, democratic process should occur — at least in their election. Perhaps that has happened because members would rather not be bothered, preferring that a group of capable, knowledgeable folks would just take care of these complicated technical matters on our behalf.

Maybe this debate will serve as a wake-up call that we need to get more involved.