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Attend Neighborhood Council Meetings and June 8 Public Hearing on Water Shortage Rates
You are invited to attend a public hearing on the proposed new water shortage rates and codifying the Water Shortage Stages, scheduled for 6 p.m. June 8 in the Ventura City Council Chambers, 501 Poli Street. Or, tune in to CAPS-TV Channel 15 on June 8 to watch the meeting, or see it live at www.cityofventura.net/video.
The new proposed rates with an additional fourth water-use tier prioritize conservation and full water revenue loss recovery/revenue neutrality. (Read the Water Shortage Rate Study and the 2014 Cost of Service Study here.)
Customers may also attend one of these meetings for more information:
- TONIGHT! Wednesday, May 27, 7 p.m.: Wright Events Center (formerly the Wright Library), 4667 Telegraph Road
- Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 p.m.: Westside Community Council, Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave.
A typical single-family home in Ventura has a bi-monthly water bill of $86.33. Under Stage 3 Water Shortage rates for 2015-2016, these same customers would see their bill rise to $108.53 (an increase of $22.20) IF THEY DO NOT REDUCE WATER USAGE. If they reduce by 20 percent, their rates remain the same - $86.33 bi-monthly. Lifeline usage is minimally impacted.
The rates are increasing to achieve full revenue recovery within each tier or customer class, and by doing so, further encouraging conservation. The new rates account for the city fully recovering drought-related costs from lower water sales due to conservation and drought expenses, estimated at about $1.1 million for a Stage 3 Water Emergency. Expenses include the new rebate incentive program, water waste enforcement, customer outreach and customer surveys.
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Ventura Water GM Shana Epstein leads a Town Hall meeting held April 29. She discussed water rates, the Water Shortage Emergency Contingency Plan, a rebate program for turf removal and other efforts by Ventura Water to manage the drought.
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Check Pipeline for Details About New Water Wise Incentive Program
Keep checking your monthly Pipeline e-newsletter from Ventura Water for details about the new conservation Incentive Program for customers coming this summer!
Pipeline covers the latest news about Ventura’s water, wastewater and stormwater services, as well as insights from General Manager Shana Epstein. Upcoming issues will have details of the new financial incentives and rebate program coming this summer from Ventura Water to “wise-up” your landscape.
 The Ventura City Council approved a new incentive program on March 9. The incentive plan focuses on more efficient irrigation devices and a turf removal and replacement incentive when property owners install a low-water alternative to water-thirsty grass. Some artificial turf (restrictions apply); and hardscapes like concrete patios not eligible.
- For smaller landscape areas that are converted: turf removal rebate is capped at $800.
- For larger landscape areas that are converted: turf removal rebate is capped at $1,600.
- Incentives of up to $300 are also available for other measures like buying mulch, converting to drip irrigation or installing water-efficiency devices.
Details: www.cityofventura.net/water/landscape
Need ideas and inspiration for a gorgeous water-wise garden with little or no grass? Visit www.venturacountygardening.com
Read past issues of Pipeline here
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Ventura Water Conservation Efforts in April; Please Keep Conserving!
New figures show that water use by Ventura Water customers was down 12.69 percent in the month of April 2015 compared to April 2013. The year-to-date reduction in water use by customers overall by the end of April was 9.36 percent compared to 2013.
Ventura is in a Stage 3 Water Emergency requiring customers to reduce water use by 20 percent. Please keep trying to reduce use and make water conservation a lifestyle!
Ventura Water has instituted several mandatory water conservation measures for our customers. They include: sprinkler irrigation systems may run only two days per week between the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.; handheld hoses used to wash cars must have a shutoff nozzle; fountains must use recycled water; and hosing down hard surfaces like driveways or sidewalks is not allowed. (Using a broom to sweep is a reasonable alternative.) A new rebate incentive program to encourage lawn removal is coming as well.
Ventura Water offers free water conservation aids and on-site residential water surveys to help our customers save water. Use the New Water Calculator tool to help schedule your irrigation timers more efficiently. Learn more by clicking here.
Please contact Customer Care at myvtawater@cityofventura.net or call (805) 667-6500 to schedule a water survey.
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Mound Basin GSA Stakeholder Meeting Set for June 1
 The public is welcome to attend a stakeholder’s meeting on June 1 to discuss the formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Mound Basin. The meeting is at 6 p.m. June 1 at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St. in the Community Meeting Room.
The City currently depends upon 4,000 acre feet (1 AF = 326,000 gallons) of water a year from the Mound Basin. This basin has some of the hardest water, but a reliable volume. Local agencies that have partnered to form a Groundwater Sustainability Agency include the City of Ventura, United Water Conservation District and the Ventura County Watershed Protection District. The June 1 meeting will have a brief presentation on the new state groundwater management law as well as background information on the groundwater basin. The focus of the meeting is to obtain comments from the public, answer questions, and develop a list of organizations that would like to participate in the formation of this new agency.
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Water Quality Exceedance Notice
If you have additional questions regarding this issue, please contact the Ventura Water Utility Manager, Omar Castro, or Ventura Water Assistant General Manager, Joe McDermott, during normal business hours at (805) 652-4500.
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