LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Board of Supervisors approved a modified urgency ordinance for the Starview Water System.
Because of a decrease in water consumption, customers of will be given and extra 100 cubic feet each month before seeing an increase in their surcharges.
Surcharges are based on the amount of water used each month. Customers will be charged $10.47 per cubic foot of water when using more than 1,000 cubic feet, which is approximately 250 gallons a day. If usage is greater than 1,200 cubic feet each month, customers will receive a surcharge of $350.
A third tier to the surcharges was also added, which will cost $700 if usage exceeds 1,500 cubic feet of water each month.
Last week, the board approved the same scale for the Bonanza Springs Water System, as well as a similar scale for the Mount Hannah Water System.
The three water systems were placed under mandatory water restrictions last year because “critically low water table levels were threatening the water wells … and dry conditions were expected to continue,” according to Lake County Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger.
“After one year of monitoring well levels, usage and the conservation efforts of the customers, we have found that some modifications to the existing Urgency Ordinance would benefit the CSA and help us reduce the extreme cases of water misuse while protecting the customers that are taking measures to conserve,” Dellinger continued.
Additionally, language regarding new connections were changed after an application was denied based on the existing urgency ordinance.
“We determined that it would be in the best interest … to allow the connections, in which case water use would be monitored,” Dellinger explained. “If a new well was drilled in the same aquifer as the existing well, we would not have any means to control the amount of water used and it could be detrimental to the existing well.”
The board approved the amended urgency ordinance with a 4-0 vote, District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith was absent. A second reading of the ordinance will be held during the board’s Aug. 25 meeting.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
