EBMUD Rate Increase Hearing: June 9
– The public hearing will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 1:15 p.m. in the EBMUD Board Room, 375 11th Street, Oakland. –
If approved, the new rates and the drought surcharge would take effect July 1, 2015. East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has declared a Stage 4 critical drought and set a community-wide goal of 20% water use reduction, compared to 2013 water consumption.
An 8% rate increase would begin July 1, if approved by the Board following the hearing. EBMUD water rates increased 9.75 percent beginning July 1, 2013, and increased again on July 1, 2014 by 9.5 percent. EBMUD reports most of its customers have cut back their water use significantly, resulting in the need to continue to increase rates to cover fixed costs.
As of April 15, 2015, single family residential customers are expected to limit indoor water consumption to 35 gallons per person per day. This is challenging many customers since the estimated daily water flow per person even with energy flow toilets, faucets and shower heads exceeds the goal without including laundry or the use of a dishwasher:
10 gallons = 6 flushes of a low flow toilet
10 gallons = 1 five minute low flow shower
80 gallons = twenty minutes of low flow sink faucet for hand-washing, teeth brushing, cooking and food/pots/dishes rinsing or washing by hand.
Citizens can direct questions to www.ebmud.com for more information related to the proposed fees. Phone 1-866-403-2683.
Fee increase protests must be in writing and sent to EBMUD at:
EBMUD, MS 218, PO Box 24055, Oakland, CA 94623-1055.
Marguerite Young is Piedmont’s Ward 3 representative on the EBMUD Board of Directors.
Mandatory outdoor watering rules:
- Strict limits on frequency: no more than two non-consecutive days per week with no runoff.
- Strict limits on times: only before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- No watering allowed within 48 hours of measurable rainfall.
- No watering of ornamental turf on public street medians allowed.
- No washing of driveways and sidewalks; except as needed for health and safety.
- Use only hoses with shutoff nozzles to wash vehicles.
- Turn off fountains or decorative water features unless the water is recirculated.
Read the proposed new rates and excessive use penalties.
Related articles:
EBMUD Excessive Water Use Penalties Hitting Houses But Not Apartment Buildings
California Drought: Will Piedmont Wells be Managed?
