Carpinteria Water Rates to Fluctuate

Carpinteria residents can expect to see their water bills fluctuate in accordance with drought-related expenses that are projected for the 2016-2017 budget. Low water users will have their rates increase by roughly $8.13 per month, whereas high water users will have their rates drop by nearly $7.77 per month.

The two-tiered rate system is expected to go into effect as a replacement for the previous three-tiered system. According to Carpinteria Valley Water District (CVWD) General Manager Charles Hamilton, the three-tiers weren’t in sync with the cost of service required.

“It has to do with the way we’re structuring the tiers,” said Hamilton. “We have a huge amount of drought expense, and the low water users’ rates would actually decrease if not for these expenses.” Hamilton went on to explain that the drought expenses are part of the fixed side of the budget expenditures, meaning that the customers bear the costs. “The variable side of the budget is not fluctuating much,” say Hamilton.