Water rates to be adjusted to encourage conservation

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002 | 11:05 a.m.

To punish those who drench their lawns, and in effect waste water, the Las Vegas Valley Water District is considering adjusting rates in a manner that also could reward those who conserve the precious desert resource.

"We are seeing people watering their lawns like it's still the middle of July," said Water District spokesman Vince Alberta. "We are again nearing the point to bring the matter of rate adjustments up before discussion by the board."

In March, Pat Mulroy, general manager for both the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District, said she was considering proposing increased rates that could affect those who are the heaviest water users at residential and business properties.

However, Alberta said, the matter was temporarily put on hold because the nation was still reeling from the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other utilities were proposing rate increases.

"We felt in light of those issues the message of conservation would be lost," Alberta said. "What we are now considering would not be a rate increase to generate more revenue, but rater a rate adjustment that would get across the message to conserve water."

The Water District has a four-tier rate system. Alberta said the adjustment would raise the rates for the heavy users and could possibly lower the rates for individuals and businesses that do not use as much water.

He said the main water abusers, according to Water District studies, is the 20 to 49 age group and the main problem is waste caused by overwatering lawns.

"In the summer you can water seven days a week, but in the fall that should be cut to four times a week," Alberta said. "We see some of our biggest waste of water in sprinklers running every day from October through January.

"The district has been successful in managing water resources to extent of creating a Catch 22, where segments of the community have forgotten about the importance of conservation."

Alberta said Water District statistics show that the senior citizens group has done "a terrific job" of conserving water.

No public hearing has been set on rate adjustment, Alberta said.