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San Diego Residents Face Water Bill Increase As Drought Continues
March 26, 2009SAN DIEGO -- Many San Diegans can expect a major change to their water supply if the current drought continues.
Sprinklers, faucets and showers may all be seeing less action in the coming months, according to the San Diego Water Department.
"If the county tells the city of San Diego we have to cut our reduction by up to 20 percent, our customers are going to have to cut back their usage," said Alex Ruiz, assistant director of the San Diego Water Department.
Ruiz said the city gets its water from the County Water Authority.
If the authority cuts the city's water usage that means residents will have to cut their water usage. The amount of water would be based on the amount of water a single San Diego household used in previous years.
"OK, customer, this is what you used on average and we we're going to ask you to reduce from that baseline," said Ruiz.
Some residents have already cut the amount of water they use, and the city knows who has been conserving.
Unfortunately, only 20 percent of San Diegans are doing their part.
"The bigger chunk is the folks who haven't quite achieved the efficiency we'd be looking for," said Ruiz.
If residents don't cut, they will be fined, Ruiz said.
Ruiz discussed the water plan with the city's Natural Resources and Culture committee on Wednesday, and the plan could be adopted next month if the drought emergency worsens.
If the plan is adopted, the city's water department would calculate each resident's average water use over a previous three-year period.
"And then that will result in a bucket of water, so to speak; an amount of water that each customer will have to use at their property," said Ruiz.
San Diego continues to suffer through one of the worst droughts this century. Return to San Diego Local News Roundup
