New water rates have residents paying less per gallon despite drought

Posted by Jon Castor
a resident of Woodside: Woodside Heights
on Oct 1, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Jon Castor is a registered user.

Great article, thanks.
This is a really bad time to implement this rate design.
Reducing rates for water use, especially incremental water use above a baseline, while increasing base rates that are independent of use in the midst of a serious drought is the opposite of what we need.
A disappointing formulaic approach that apparently didn't seriously consider the facts on the ground.

Posted by Roxie Rorapaugh
a resident of Menlo Park: University Heights
on Oct 5, 2014 at 10:31 am

Hi Dave,

You have shown some interest if water systems, kudos.

I would like to see
reporting on the MPMWS policies. I notice that the district, includes areas outside of the city of Menlo Park, I wonder if this is the best policy since or City Council and commissions are working so hard to fulfill their mission of keeping the bureaucrats who run the department accountable to the public. Should they really have to be responsible for clients that do not live in menlo park? Who are these clients any way? I just noticed this when I looked at a map of the MPMWD overlaid with the MP city limits map.

The issues of equity are also clear in that the some of the city engineers have suggested supplying public water to a private country club to irrigate their golf course. While I admit in this case the golf course is in the City limits, it does not seem to me to be a proper use of water during a drought or even during wetter times when aquifers may be able to recharge and prepare the ecosystem for future dry spells instead of being wasted on a golf course.

Just an idea, you seem like a reporter interested in these things and we need those. I often feel theres is something I don't know even though and a good reporter might figure it out.