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LAKE COUNTY >> A public hearing regarding an increase to water and sewer fees for customers of the Clearlake Oaks County Water District (COCWD) will be held April 16.

The purpose of the hearing is to garner public input and feedback to determine if the district’s water and sewer billing procedure should change from being solely based on active accounts to including all service connections.

Current residential base rates for water and sewer are $32.36 and $45.93, respectively. However, if into effect, base rates will increase by 3 percent each year for the next four years. Additionally, $2 will be included for capital improvements.

If approved by the district’s board of directors, a tiered system will be used to promote conservation, and rates will increase annually until reserves are funded, which is expected reached in 40 years.

“We are in the final stages,” COCWD General Manager Matt Bassett said. “We have held multiple workshops, as well as committee and board meetings.”

The proposed increases are likely to stir some public comment. In the first year, the residential base water rate will increase to $37.87 and will eventually rise to $47.56 in 2018. The base residential sewer rate will increase to $53.30 in the first year, reaching a total of $64.42 by 2018.

Furthermore, water usage rates will increase by 3 percent each year. Currently, usage rates are $1.26 for each cubic foot of water up to 1,500; $1.45 for each cubic foot from 1,501 to 2,000 and $1.94 for any cubic foot used more than 2,000.

New rates would be effective starting in July and will be evaluated annually.

Money from the rate increase will be used for capital improvements and infrastructure updates.

“We are under a clean up and abate order from the state,” Bassett said. “If it is not approved, the state will step and take control of what needs to happen.”

According to a report by the California Rural Water Association’s Specialized Utility Services Program reviewing the water rate increase, three areas were identified as needing infrastructure improvements, which are the water treatment plant, transmission lines, vehicles, as well as pumps and tanks and equipment.

“These are all existing parts of the infrastructure, and to date there are very little reserves for these components,” the report states.

Bassett said the state is “happy we have taken a proactive approach … and not just waiting for stuff to break before we fix it.”

Improvements needed in the water system stem from aging equipment, which was originally installed in the 1960s.

The public hearing will be held at 4 p.m. on April 16 at the Live Oak Senior Center in Clearlake Oaks, which is located at 12519 Foothill Blvd. in Clearlake Oaks.

But Clearlake Oaks isn’t the only water district having rate increases.

Lucerne has had multiple rate increase from the California Water Service Company (Cal Water) since 2008, with the most recent being in January, when Lucerne residents’ rates per 100 cubic foot of water rose from $14.65 to $16.06 while the smallest 5/8 by ¾ inch meter monthly charge rose from $50.26 to $51.39.

The increase was the result of the Sales Reconciliation Mechanism (SRM), which is the second mechanism created to maintain the company’s revenues when their consumers conserve water.

The first, called The Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (WRAM), was created in 2008 and is a surcharge applied 12 to 36 months following the loss of revenue and allows Cal Water to recover the difference between actual revenues collected and the amount of revenue it was authorized to collect by the CPUC.

Additionally, the company entered into a loan agreement with the state’s Department of Public Health for just over $7 million upon completion of a new water treatment plant in the community, which has resulted in an increase in repayment charges for residents.

Furthermore, water usage and conservation continues to be an issue countywide, with nearly every water district overseen by Lake County Special Districts under mandatory conservation ordinance. Water systems in Finley and Kelseyville remain the only two have lifted urgency ordinances.

Kono Tayee, North Lakeport and Soda Bay water systems remain under voluntary conservation measures, while the Paradise Valley, Spring Valley, Mount Hannah, Bonanza Springs and Starview water systems all remain in urgency ordinances with mandatory conservation measures.

Data collected in February regarding the status of each systems wells showed the ratio of improvements and decreases over last year’s numbers are relatively even. However, when compared to well levels in 2013, most systems have seen a decrease.

With improvement to water levels in Clear Lake and the Indian Valley Reservoir, Lake County Special Districts Compliance Coordinator Jan Coppinger said she thinks this summer won’t be worse than last.

“I think where we are at today … it is not quite as bleak,” Coppinger said. “We are in a little better shape than last year.”

Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.

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