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Recently City Hall came up with a plan to reduce water consumption in this City. Obviously we are in a drought, it is having a debilitating effect on our water supply, and there can be no doubt that conservation is necessary. But there is also another factor adding to this problem, that being resident overconsumption. Apparently you had gone out on some sort of water binge, and it was so over the top that financial penalties had to be put into place to stop you from doing even more damage. The City didn't want to do it, but you had made it impossible for them to do otherwise. This message was made clear in three different documents issued by City Hall.
On June 6, 2013 the City issued a press release titled, "Sierra Madre is Experiencing a Drought." Here is part of what it had to say:
The City of Sierra Madre’s existing water supply comes from one of two sources; tunnel water from the local dam (5-10%) and groundwater wells (90-95%.) Throughout the summer and fall of 2012 City Public Works staff observed the water levels receding at each of the City’s four wells, which make up the area aquifer.
Normally, rainfall throughout the winter months reduces customers’ irrigation water use and provides water to recharge the aquifer. Aquifer water levels therefore tend to increase during the winter and spring months. This year’s minimal rainfall, combined with Los Angeles County Public Works diverting water from Santa Anita Dam to locations outside of Sierra Madre, has resulted in limited water for groundwater recharge at the City’s spreading basins.
Overall, resident water consumption is up from last year. During the period April 24th through 30th the Water Department produced 2.56 million gallons of water a day resulting in a 2 foot drop in water level within local wells. The same period last year showed a production of 1.5 million gallons a day. During the month of April 2013, the department produced a total of 70 million gallons versus production of 46 million gallons in April 2012. Well water levels dropped over 30 feet within that 12 month period.
At the time this press release was issued I found that claim to be a little hard to believe. An increase of this magnitude, over 1 million gallons per day over the course of an entire week, was quite a lot. Plus a 24 million gallon increase in April 2013 compared to April 2012? Again, a huge increase in water consumption. People must have been watering their lawns at a record 24/7 pace.
This same message was repeated in another City issued document called, "Water Conservation Questions and Answers - Why is mandatory water conservation necessary?" This is what was said:
Increased Consumption – Water consumption is currently up over 50% from the same period last year (April 2012 verses April 2013). There has not been a population increase in Sierra Madre. This means that our existing water customers are using more water because there has not been an increase in water customers.
And in a document called "A Letter to all Residents Regarding Mandatory Water Conservation," the same massage was repeated once again.
While rainfall is down, and recharge of the aquifer is down, overall water consumption is up from last year. Although the City does not read water meters each day, consumption can be gauged by how much water is pumped to be utilized the following day. During the period April 24 - 30th, the Water Department produced 2,560,000 gallons of water a day resulting in a 2 foot drop in water level within local wells. The same period last year showed a production of 1,500,000 gallons a day. During the month of April 2013, the department produced a total of 70,000,000 gallons versus production of 46,000,000 gallons in April 2012. Water levels at Sierra Madre’s wells dropped over 30 feet during this 12 month period.
Based on what was said in these three press releases, there can be no doubt that you have played a considerable role in the City's decision to fine you for overusing water. The fault here is clearly you. What other choice have you left them? There was nothing else to do. And yes, it was going to hurt them more than it hurts you.
Yet when this claim was first pushed by the City, there was considerable skepticism among the residents that this single week's worth of data was relevant, or even true. The water use increase the City claimed here was extraordinary, and it also flew in the face of the popularly held belief that the people of Sierra Madre had actually been conserving water.
And there is strong evidence to support this sense of disbelief among the residents. On August 14 of 2012 our Administrative Services Director, Karin Schnaider, delivered one of her comprehensive financial reviews before the City Council on the state of the Water Company's parlous finances (click here). And if you do go to her report, turn to page two and seek out the portion titled "Revenue Variances." There you will be able to read the following:
Water fund revenues fell short of projected revenues by $146,000 in FY 2011-2012 as compared to the water rate studies. As discussed in the May 2012 mid-year analysis of the Water fund revenues, this is actually a trend of decreased revenues since 2008. At the January 11, 2011 City Council meeting, the water rate study reflected this trend by recalculating FY 2010-2011 revenues and the assumed growth rate of the first year in the rate study was projected at 5% to assume some continued consumer down trends (as compared to the rate increase of 7.54%). However, year over year comparison in actual revenues were down almost -2% from FY 2010-2011 and almost 5% short of the projected revenues.
How can this be?
It seems to me it is very possible that City Hall has been caught between two very different public relations campaigns. One where conservation was the problem, and another where our difficulties have been caused by something quite the opposite.
My take is different. As anyone who has driven around town and seen the numerous water leaks will tell you, our Water Enterprise has been literally run into the ground. Years of neglect, irresponsibility and poor financial planning have brought us to where we are today. The Water Enterprise has been saddled with a backbreaking $19 million dollars in bond debt (interest factored in), something that consumes nearly $1 million per year in the department's revenue. And because of this mismanagement regular maintenance has been repeatedly delayed for years, with the result being that our water infrastructure has deteriorated to the point where it is now only marginally functioning.
Sierra Madre is the only city in this region that is experiencing these difficulties. Arcadia, who starting today will be sending us some of their excess water, draws its supplies from the same places that we do. So why is it their supply of water is so good right now that they can actually send us water, while at the same time our wells are running dry?
The answer is not that difficult. They took care of their water infrastructure. Their wells are deeper and better maintained, their pipes aren't leaking all over town, and they are not trucking vast quantities of their water department revenue to a bank in New York.
The City might be pointing its finger at you, the water consumer, but there is a whole lot more to this story than they seem willing to tell.
It is not your fault.
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