Save water and Utilities reward you with huge water fee hikes

[DucatiMonster696]

Several Arizona communities have competing private water companies. The model still doesn't account for the cost of the water as the utilities don't have to replace the water they pump. Long term groundwater depletion continues with no cost to current users.

Care to provide some additional information and citation?

In addition the additional costs seen in Las Vegas in this instance stem not from increased water usage, as growth has slowed to a crawl, but instead from maintenance of the entire water delivery infrastructure itself which is being passed onto businesses but not residents despite a drop in demand via the slowed population growth.

 

[IronWing]

Care to provide some additional information and citation?

The one I'm most familiar with is Sierra Vista, AZ, population ~45,000 plus maybe another 15,000 in its unincorporated suburbs. The city and adjacent communities are serviced by private water utilities. Most (all?) were established by land developers as the area grew. Some of the water companies are Bella Vista, Arizona Water, and Huachuca Water.

 

[dmcowen674]

Well it might be hoped that the businesses will pass along the costs to people visiting Las Vegas.

What would you have the bar do, charge $20 for a glass of beer?

 

[IronWing]

What would you have the bar do, charge $20 for a glass of beer?

Providing water costs money. Who do you propose should pay for it and why?

 

[DucatiMonster696]

The one I'm most familiar with is Sierra Vista, AZ, population ~45,000 plus maybe another 15,000 in its unincorporated suburbs. The city and adjacent communities are serviced by private water utilities. Most (all?) were established by land developers as the area grew. Some of the water companies are Bella Vista, Arizona Water, and Huachuca Water.

So far I've yet to find any recent info on the claims you've made. Can you provide any substantial links to back up your post?

There is however a ton of information available in relation to the state government and water providers working toward solutions for the water issues they face which are specific to their state along with the laws in play but none of it relates to your claim of wantonly reckless waste by private water providers or that there are no ongoing attempts made to reclaim and recharge local water supplies.

http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/default.aspx

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally Posted by dmcowen674
What would you have the bar do, charge $20 for a glass of beer?

Providing water costs money. Who do you propose should pay for it and why?

So only the rich could afford a beer in Las Vegas, gotcha.

That's pretty much the whole country will be based on your thinking.

When us peasants are all gone who is going to man the bar and serve you 1%ers?

 

[Throckmorton]

The size of the water meter is supposed to be based on how much water the building uses. The solution is to get a smaller meter

 

[boomerang]

The size of the water meter is supposed to be based on how much water the building uses. The solution is to get a smaller meter

Forget about that career in plumbing you'd contemplated.

 

[PokerGuy]

Water IMO is going to be THE most critical commodity over the next century. Energy/Oil are important, but the clean water supply is dwindling rapidly while the world's population expands rapidly. Couple that with the fact that a lot of water usage is not really optional (drinking water), and you see how big of a problem it will be.

So only the rich could afford a beer in Las Vegas, gotcha.

You did not answer his question. Who should pay for the real cost of water, and why?

 

[dmcowen674]

Water IMO is going to be THE most critical commodity over the next century. Energy/Oil are important, but the clean water supply is dwindling rapidly while the world's population expands rapidly. Couple that with the fact that a lot of water usage is not really optional (drinking water), and you see how big of a problem it will be.



You did not answer his question. Who should pay for the real cost of water, and why?

I did answer the question, apparently $20 for a beer ought to cover it.

 

[IronWing]

So far I've yet to find any recent info on the claims you've made. Can you provide any substantial links to back up your post?

There is however a ton of information available in relation to the state government and water providers working toward solutions for the water issues they face which are specific to their state along with the laws in play but none of it relates to your claim of wantonly reckless waste by private water providers or that there are no ongoing attempts made to reclaim and recharge local water supplies.

http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/default.aspx

Huh? I made no claim of wanton or reckless waste. I stated that the private companies do not have fee structures that reflect the actual cost of providing sustainable water supplies and that current rates do not reflect the long term impacts of groundwater depletion.

 

[PokerGuy]

Huh? I made no claim of wanton or reckless waste. I stated that the private companies do not have fee structures that reflect the actual cost of providing sustainable water supplies and that current rates do not reflect the long term impacts of groundwater depletion.

Neither do public entities. Nobody is paying for the true cost of sustainable water in the US. We're just lucky that for the most part there is enough fresh water in the US to support the population. That's not going to be the case much longer, especially if the major drought cycle we're in continues.

 

[Jhhnn]

What the fuck? What kind of brain damaged crackhead came up with this stupid idea? What next, the electric company sets its charges based on your shoe size?

We rarely agree, but we do on this issue.

The fee structure is designed to shelter high consumption users (giant hotels/casinos/golf courses) by putting the cost off onto low usage customers, at least in part. Those swimming pools, giant fountains & acres of greenery use up an enormous amount of water.

Nevada politics, and this is obviously political, always favor the casinos & other entertainment venues. Always. That's where the money comes from.

It's just another way to externalize the cost of doing business.

 

[Jhhnn]

Neither do public entities. Nobody is paying for the true cost of sustainable water in the US. We're just lucky that for the most part there is enough fresh water in the US to support the population. That's not going to be the case much longer, especially if the major drought cycle we're in continues.

"Few" is the term you want, rather than "nobody". Denver's water is collected at high altitude from snowmelt, a renewable resource, as is that of many other cities in the region. Riverine water for agriculture is much the same. You are correct wrt water drawn from subterranean aquifers.

 

[zanejohnson]

how the fuck are you people thinking water is going to run low... lol... is evaporation coming to an end ROFL...

this thread is so ridiculous...

the price of water SHOULD ONLY RISE WITH INFLATION.

the amount of water on this planet does not change.

 

[feralkid]

Los Vegas is in a desert.

First true statement you've ever posted.

 

[1prophet]

We have the ability to build a pipeline system for fossil fuels spanning North America, imagine if we build a pipeline/aqueduct system to bring water from places that have excess to places that don't have enough.

Couldn't cost more than a 2 trillion dollar war now

 

[Doppel]

Water may be a problem in parts of the world, but not in the US. Now, Nevada is a dessert so who cares about them but most of the US is quite close to lakes and desalination of sea water provides a lot of water to others. Water will be an increasing challenge but I have no fear at all that in anybody's lifetime reading this the US is going to face a shortage of drinking water.

 

[cybrsage]

First true statement you've ever posted.

Well no, I also posted that Obama is a natural born citizen

 

[Jhhnn]

how the fuck are you people thinking water is going to run low... lol... is evaporation coming to an end ROFL...

this thread is so ridiculous...

the price of water SHOULD ONLY RISE WITH INFLATION.

the amount of water on this planet does not change.

The issue is fresh water, delivered to your tap in a safe, consistent & palatable form. Drinking water isn't just "water", at all, but a highly processed commercial commodity, free of pathogens & most pollutants. Modern American drinking water is a triumph of science & technology-

http://www.denverwater.org/WaterQuality/

Well, some of it, anyway...

 

[CallMeJoe]

how the fuck are you people thinking water is going to run low... lol... is evaporation coming to an end ROFL...
this thread is so ridiculous...
the price of water SHOULD ONLY RISE WITH INFLATION.
the amount of water on this planet does not change.

Do some reading on aquifers and their depletion. Not all people are supplied from renewable surface waters.

 

[cubby1223]

I was reading something not too long ago about the advances in solar power technologies and projections that we could soon be entering an age of abundance of energy, and along with that comes an over-abundance of fresh water.

Just not today unfortunately.

 

[dmcowen674]

OK folks

It's not just Vegas. Water Thug Utilities are using the same language and excuse throughout the country.

Save water and get penalized and screwed for doing so.

7-10-2012

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120710/news/707109962

Buffalo Grove OKs 65 percent rate hike



On Monday, the village board approved a 35 percent increase in the rates beginning in January and a 30 percent increase the following year.

Water consumption is down due to such factors as energy efficient appliances.

 

[BoomerD]

A few years ago, California passed a law requiring all residential properties to be on metered water service...so, a couple of years, we switched from a flat monthly rate for our water based on (a) size of water connection and (b) lot size, to water charged by the hundred gallons...PLUS a monthly "connection fee" that's based on (a) size of water connection and (b) lot size.

People started cutting back on how much water they used because of the higher costs...of course, that meant the city wasn't "selling as much water," so they recently announced an increase in the charge for water...

 

[sao123]

Because the user which required the greater capacity may not use that greater capacity. The infrastructure to provide that capacity is a sunk cost to the utility. To recoup the cost of providing capacity the utility is charging a fee based on that capacity in addition to a charge for the water actually used.

If one buys a four seat car, one pays for the back seats even if one never uses them. It is the same idea here.

what a terrible analogy... sure you pay for the back seat... when you buy the car...

AKA when you pay your connect fee.

But other than paying for the car itself (a one time thing) You dont have to pay a continuing monthly fee just for the privilige of keeping your backseat... no you just pay for the gas you use.

This is more akin to paying a cable subscription service AND being charged for each program you watch.