WE PROTEST THESE NEW OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE WATER RATES!

Our water rates have just skyrocketed, even though we work very hard to conserve. 

District rate increase materials sent out claimed: "If the proposed rate/service charge changes are approved, it’s estimated that over 70% of residential customers would experience a monthly increase of $5 or less. Households which consume more water than average will pay more per unit of water (1 unit = 748 gallons). It’s also estimated that the vast majority (98%) of business water accounts would experience an increase of about 40-cents per unit of water." 

WHAT THE DISTRICT CLAIMED IS NOT TRUE.  Here is what we now know:

*The 9% rate increase was built on using the Stage 3 Emergency rates as a base rate, so the expensive Stage 3 rate got "baked in" and will remain, regardless of what the Board approves as future conservation stage fee status.

*The Board has approved raising our rates another 9% EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS!

*Families are suffering now and, even though practicing good conservation, must struggle to pay these enormously-high water bills that are going to increase 36%  more over the next four years.

*Monthly service connection fees will also increase many-fold over the next four years.

*Tier 2 rates are NOT "a little more" but rather nearly five-times more than the Tier 1 rate. 

*The Tier 2 high rates are structured to bring in money to fund the PureWater Soquel Project, a $90 million project to inject treated sewage water into the groundwater supplying drinking water to the MidCounty area.  

*Many of us are opposed to this project and want the District to explore other alternatives.

WE PROTEST these unfair rates that discriminate against families and that do not reflect what the District told us we could expect.

CANCEL THE RATE INCREASES!  EXAMINE LESS-COSTLY SUPPLY ALTERNATIVES TO THE PUREWATER SOQUEL PROJECT!

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