Water use expected to rise as restrictions end
Residents obeying a successful water conservation law that impressively surpassed a 10 percent reduction goal and a second year of heavier-than-expected rainfall have resulted in a sizeable revenue drop for the Yorba Linda Water District.
But, because “a third consecutive year of significant precipitation is unlikely,” water sales to the district’s 75,000 residents are expected to rebound for the fiscal year that began July 1, according to General Manager Ken Vecchiarelli.
Conservation-minded Yorba Lindans used 20 percent less water before restrictions were lifted recently. The decrease, coupled with two seasons of heavy rain, meant the district “sold less water than anticipated,” Vecchiarelli noted in a report to district directors.
Water sales declined $2.9 million last year but are expected to increase $1.2 million for the current year, Vecchiarelli stated. Anticipated water use will reach 22,350 acre-feet, which is higher than the 20,162 used last year but lower than the 2009 figure of 23,417.
One acre-foot is the volume of water that would cover an acre of land one foot deep, or 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons. The district bills in 748-gallon units, and average residential customers use 25 units or 18,700 gallons monthly.
The 2011-12 budget estimates $30.7 million income, up from $26.2 million last year, and $27.7 million expenses, up from $22.8 million. Including “depreciation” forecasts a $2 million loss, up from last year’s $1 million loss. Capital improvement projects will add $11.8 million to spending.
Other interesting and surprising items gleaned from the 200-page budget report:
--Most of the district’s income will come from water sales, $27.4 million, with $1.7 million from the $5.50 monthly sewer charge. Property taxes will add another $1.2 million to district coffers.
The district records 23,850 water hookups for residential, commercial and light industrial accounts and expects to add 400 more this year. A total 6,383 sewer accounts were added due to the takeover of the city’s eastside sewers.
--Water users face a 7.5 percent rate increase for imported water from the Metropolitan Water District Jan. 1, 2012. But the YLWD seeks to annex about six more square miles of land to the Orange County Water District groundwater basin.
If successful, the annexation “will allow the district to pump the maximum groundwater available each year, at a lower cost than purchasing the same amount of import…water,” for $1.5 million in annual savings.
--No raises are built-in for 76 full-time employees, but merit pay, reclassifications, health and retirement benefit increases add $320,000 to the budget. The district pays employees’ portion for CalPERS, and COLAs might be negotiated later.
--The budget includes $137,161 for salaries and benefits (up from $94,133) and $117,500 for supplies and services (up from $69,000) for the five elected directors. The latter figure includes five laptop PCs as well as travel and conference expenses.
--The district’s reserve fund is expected to be $19.4 million on June 30, 2012, down from a June 30, 2011, total of $29.9 million. The equity fund balance will total $153.5 million.
--The city is the largest water user, paying nearly $1.7 million last year, but that’s down from $1.9 million paid 10 years ago. Placentia-Yorba Linda schools paid $310,000, up from $32,000.
But, because “a third consecutive year of significant precipitation is unlikely,” water sales to the district’s 75,000 residents are expected to rebound for the fiscal year that began July 1, according to General Manager Ken Vecchiarelli.
Conservation-minded Yorba Lindans used 20 percent less water before restrictions were lifted recently. The decrease, coupled with two seasons of heavy rain, meant the district “sold less water than anticipated,” Vecchiarelli noted in a report to district directors.
Water sales declined $2.9 million last year but are expected to increase $1.2 million for the current year, Vecchiarelli stated. Anticipated water use will reach 22,350 acre-feet, which is higher than the 20,162 used last year but lower than the 2009 figure of 23,417.
One acre-foot is the volume of water that would cover an acre of land one foot deep, or 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons. The district bills in 748-gallon units, and average residential customers use 25 units or 18,700 gallons monthly.
The 2011-12 budget estimates $30.7 million income, up from $26.2 million last year, and $27.7 million expenses, up from $22.8 million. Including “depreciation” forecasts a $2 million loss, up from last year’s $1 million loss. Capital improvement projects will add $11.8 million to spending.
Other interesting and surprising items gleaned from the 200-page budget report:
--Most of the district’s income will come from water sales, $27.4 million, with $1.7 million from the $5.50 monthly sewer charge. Property taxes will add another $1.2 million to district coffers.
The district records 23,850 water hookups for residential, commercial and light industrial accounts and expects to add 400 more this year. A total 6,383 sewer accounts were added due to the takeover of the city’s eastside sewers.
--Water users face a 7.5 percent rate increase for imported water from the Metropolitan Water District Jan. 1, 2012. But the YLWD seeks to annex about six more square miles of land to the Orange County Water District groundwater basin.
If successful, the annexation “will allow the district to pump the maximum groundwater available each year, at a lower cost than purchasing the same amount of import…water,” for $1.5 million in annual savings.
--No raises are built-in for 76 full-time employees, but merit pay, reclassifications, health and retirement benefit increases add $320,000 to the budget. The district pays employees’ portion for CalPERS, and COLAs might be negotiated later.
--The budget includes $137,161 for salaries and benefits (up from $94,133) and $117,500 for supplies and services (up from $69,000) for the five elected directors. The latter figure includes five laptop PCs as well as travel and conference expenses.
--The district’s reserve fund is expected to be $19.4 million on June 30, 2012, down from a June 30, 2011, total of $29.9 million. The equity fund balance will total $153.5 million.
--The city is the largest water user, paying nearly $1.7 million last year, but that’s down from $1.9 million paid 10 years ago. Placentia-Yorba Linda schools paid $310,000, up from $32,000.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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