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2024-25 South County Groundwater Production Charge-Setting Process

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South County important dates

Our District Act provides that groundwater charges may be levied to further the protection and augmentation of the water supplies as well as produce groundwater for beneficial use; may be collected from all those within a zone who own or operate water producing wells whether currently active or not; and that groundwater production charge revenue may be used to pay for and incur debt for the following:

Water supplies

  • Operate and maintain local reservoirs to capture water and fill recharge ponds to replenish the groundwater basin
  • Purchase imported water and develop local water supplies to replenish the groundwater basin

Water quality

  • Monitor and protect groundwater from pollutants and saltwater intrusion
  • Ensure proper construction and destruction of wells to help prevent contaminants from infiltrating the groundwater basin

Infrastructure

  • Plan, construct and retrofit infrastructure such as dams, pipelines, recharge ponds and pump stations to help sustain the groundwater table
  • Operate and maintain pipelines, recharge ponds and pumping plants to help sustain the groundwater table

How will rates change?

Valley Water staff is proposing the following rates for the South County groundwater benefit zones in Fiscal Year 2024-2025:

  • 6.6 percent rate increase for groundwater in Zone W-5, an average household increase of $1.22 per month
  • 14.2 percent rate increase for groundwater in Zone W-7, an average household increase of $3.20 per month
  • 8.0 percent rate increase for groundwater in Zone W-8, an average household increase of $1.10 per month

Agricultural water rates shown in the 2024-25 PAWS report reflect the direction provided by Valley Water's Board of Directors to maintain the Agricultural water rate at or under 10 percent of the lowest South County Zone (Zone W-8) Municipal and Industrial rate.

  Current charges 2023/2024 Proposed maximum charges 2024/2025*

Non-agricultural

- Zone W-5

- Zone W-7

- Zone W-8

 

$543.50/acre-foot

$657.50/acre-foot

$398.00/acre-foot

 

$579.00/acre-foot

$750.50/acre-foot

$430.00/acre-foot

Agricultural water

- All Zones

 

$36.85/acre-foot

 

$39.80/acre-foot

*Effective July 1, 2024

Related Files
Attachment Size
2024 South County Groundwater Mailer 2.29 MB