Letter to Editor: Why Not Bill for Actual Water Usage?

— from Doug Bechtel —

(Editors’ Note: The Oct. 21 meeting of the Eastsound Water Users Association (EWUA) Board will take place at 5 p.m. at the conference room adjacent to EWUA offices at 286 Enchanted Forest Road, near the corner of Lovers Lane and Enchanted Forest Road.)

My Letter-to-the-Editor last week has got me thinking about Eastsound Water Users Association (EWUA) rates.

Each residential customer of EWUA gets a bill for $135 every three months. On a monthly basis, we are paying $45 for up to 5,000 gallons of water. Why are we paying for 5,000 gallons of water a month? According to EWUA, the state requires water utilities to plan for a use of 200 gallons of water per day per residence. Of course 200 gallons a day works out to 6,000 gallons a month but whatever. So I guess it’s a case of “they plan for it so we pay for it” whether we use it or not. My wife and I use about 2,000 gallons a month. Why are we paying for 5,000 gallons? Good question.

While EWUA encourages us to conserve water, their rates do just the opposite. I know a number of people who wash their cars, water their lawns and flowers because “The water is free” and “I’m paying for it so I’m going to use it”.

Instead of just giving lip service to conservation, EWUA should adopt rates that encourage conservation. Here is an off the top of my head suggestion: Charge us $15 a month plus a penny for each gallon of water we use up to the 5,000 gallon limit. This way someone who uses 2,000 gallon a month would pay $35, while someone who uses 5,000 gallons a month would pay $65. Would this encourage conservation? You bet it would. People would make informed decisions on whether to wash their cars or water their lawns. EWUA could still keep the three month billing cycle if they wanted.

If the EWUA members used less water, EWUA might be able to get the State to reduce the 200 gallons a day planning figure which would save all of us a lot money in the future. And if the State wouldn’t consider a change, well, that’s what our Legislators are for. But first we need to have a water conservation program that works.

Just my two cents worth.