Water wasters could be soaked by new fees

Wednesday, May 8, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

The Las Vegas Valley Water District is looking for people wasting water.

Violators could soon face new fees designed to penalize those who fail to properly maintain their water systems. The Clark County Commission, which is the Water District board, set a June 4 date for a public hearing and vote on a new fee system.

The fees would supplement, but not replace, the current penalties, which can be up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail for wasting water. Those penalties are set by the court.

The proposed fee system, in contrast, would be an administrative charge. The charge would gradually go up if the water customer continued to ignore the problem.

A standard residential hookup with an errant sprinkler head spraying water on a sidewalk, for example, would bring a $14.09 charge for a first offense. It would go up to $140.90 for a fifth violation or more.

Heavier water users, including commercial customers, would face steeper graduated fees.

Doug Bennett, Water District conservation manager, said the fee system would apply to just a small percentage of customers. But because the fees would be easier to apply and less antagonistic than pulling violators into court, there also might be a greater number of people who feel the district's pinch, he said.

Last year the district cited 28 customers for wasting water. Usually, the water waster is discovered by following a small river back to the source, often outdoor irrigation gone awry.

"Really, what we're going after is the water running down the street," said Richard Wimmer, district deputy general manager. He said the district hopes the new fee system will be a "friendlier" approach that will encourage voluntary conservation and education.

"We really believe that this will be much more effective but much more friendly," he said.

First-time offenders could even get a refund for attending a water-education class.

Water District officials and county commissioners said the move is necessary to improve the deteriorating level of water conservation. Although the Colorado River, source of 89 percent of the district's water, is experiencing a drought, customers overall are slipping from conservation goals set seven years ago.

Last year, the region wasted 10.4 billion gallons, enough to cover a square mile 50 feet deep, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, a companion agency, estimated last month.

Pat Mulroy, general manager of both agencies, has warned that more stringent measures, even rationing, may be needed if these water conservation measures do not work.