ANAHEIM : Council OKs Plan to Cut Water Use

Despite March rainstorms, Anaheim water customers will begin paying penalties if they don’t cut water use by 25%.

Under a plan approved 4 to 0 by the City Council on Tuesday, all water customers need to scale back water use to 75% of the average amount used in their size category or face a drought surcharge on water used above that limit.

“We think a 25% (reduction) is a good target,” said Ray Merchant, spokesman for the utility department. “There are a lot of people out there who are using less already.”

Currently, customers are charged a flat rate for each billing unit--748 gallons of water--regardless of how much water is used.

“The idea is to give the customer a signal that this is a precious commodity,” said Edward Aghjayan, general manager of the city Public Utilities Department. “What we want to do is encourage the people who are conserving and discourage the people who are big water users.” For an average single-family home, which uses 20 billing units of water a month, the water bill would increase about $2.13 if water use is not cut.

For an average commercial/industrial customer, who uses 987 billing units per month, the increase would be $84.23 without any reductions in use.

Funds raised through this surcharge will be placed in a separate city account to pay for penalties the Metropolitan Water District charges the city for purchasing more than its allotment of water.

The city receives about 30% of its water from MWD and about 70% from underground wells.

In addition to the penalties, the city has also imposed other water-use restrictions upon residents. Lawn watering is limited, the hosing down of concrete is forbidden, and water cannot be served in restaurants unless requested by a customer.

Merchant said the department continues to offer free literature, free conservation kits with low-flow shower heads, and rebates for customers who use low-flush toilets. In addition, the 24-hour hot line, (714) 991-DRIP and six water advisers are available to help answer questions about water conservation.