Letter: End fixed fee to promote water conservation

EDITOR,
If the city of Scotts Valley is to accomplish its goal of reducing the use of our most precious water resources, the Scotts Valley Water District must change the way it charges for water. The SVWD must transition exclusively to a “pay for water (actually) used” program. Right now, the SVWD charges a fixed fee — what they call a “basic water charge” — plus a “water usage charge.” On my most recent water bill, the basic water charge was $47.42 and the water usage charge was $18.18. Due to the high “fixed fee” charge, the current fee system does not support an incentive to save as much water as possible.
Let us briefly compare another business that provides fuel instead of water. When you purchase gasoline, you pay for the gas by the gallon, with no fixed fees. The less gasoline you use, the less you spend on gasoline. There is no fixed fee for using the gas pump, electricity, the hose or any other business expense. To save more money, a person would purchase a smaller economy car and pay for less gas to drive the economy car. It is a simple theory, and it works!
Now, let us use the same simple theory to purchase water. If a person wants to save water, he or she should pay for only the water actually used. Eliminate the fixed fees. Implement a “pay only for the water you use” incentive system that supports a water-reduction goal.
Paul Heltsley, Scotts Valley