By Julie BUTCHER

“The rates have gone up but the quality of water, especially the high mineral content, has not. So how can you ask us to pay more for an inferior product?” the first speaker asked the Crescenta Valley Water District board of directors at the Tuesday night public meeting to discuss the district’s proposed water and sewer rate increases.

CVWD general manager Nemesciano “Nem” Ochoa ran through the water district’s budget and explained the rationale for the proposed rate increases, noting increased costs for imported water, water treatment costs and pipe material cost hikes; the district distributed a detailed document to the approximately 31 customers who attended the public hearing.

Board chair James Bodnar announced that the meeting had been moved into the outside courtyard in anticipation of increased attendance and announced that no vote would be taken at the meeting, that the board would listen to the public and make a determination in two weeks, on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. The decision would be announced at the CVWD headquarters at 2700 Foothill Blvd.

As previously reported, CVWD has proposed a 7% increase to local water rates and a 4% hike to sewer rates; if the new rates are approved, a water bill for a typical resident with a ¾-inch meter using 17 units of water – 17,000 gallons during a two-month billing period – would increase by about $10.65. This would be a monthly increase of $5.32. The two-month bill would increase from $152.13 to $162.78. If the wastewater rate increase is okayed, a customer’s wastewater bill for a typical residence with a ¾-inch meter using 17 units of water – 17,000 gallons during a two-month billing period – would increase by about $3.33, a monthly increase of $1.66.

According to CVWD, the amount of an average two-month water bill would increase from $83.15 to $86.48.

The district received 409 letters protesting the increase.

“We are a community water district,” Bodnar reminded those assembled. “What we pay is what we get back. We’re five elected board members and we live here, run into you at Ralphs and Starbucks. We pay the same exact rates; there’s no special deal for board members.”

As it has done in the past, staff plans on posting answers on its website https://www.cvwd.com/ to the questions raised.

Retired environmental engineer and 35-year La Crescenta homeowner Frank Colcord spoke in favor of the budget and resulting rate hikes.

“First, it is the responsibility of CVWD’s staff to provide my family and community with safe, reliable, cost-effective drinking water, fire-fighting water, and service on a day-to-day basis,” said Colcord. “But it is the responsibility of the CVWD board of directors to ensure we have the same safe, reliable, cost-effective service 10 years, even a generation, from now.”

Colcord said that he attends “most all” of the board’s twice-monthly meetings and regularly observes the board and staff “wrestle with the challenge of balancing the ever-increasing costs of providing water and sewer to our community, with the very real ramifications of raising rates on your family, friends, and neighbors.”

Most of the speakers opposed the increases proposed.

“Sixteen years in a row!” When will we have one year with no rate increase?” one said, obviously exasperated. “You send a mixed message. If we conserve, we lose. If it rains, we lose. If it doesn’t rain, we lose. If there’s an emergency – just let us know and we’ll pay.”

Speaking in support of the increases, local resident David Anthony emphasized the importance of planning for climate change.

“You live in the west,” he said. “It’s dryer and dryer and hotter and hotter and the sooner we get things taken care of, the better off we’ll all be.”

Several speakers complained about the cost and quality of the water.

“I can truck in water cheaper than what it costs me now. Can I just go off the gird?” one asked.

Another criticized the effectiveness of the water in cleaning her dishes. “Now I’m not saying that you need to come wash my dishes,” she joked.

Current CVWD rates are slightly lower than the average of its peer agencies; once these increases are implemented, rates are estimated to be slightly above the average.

The board will deliberate the increases as part of its annual budget deliberations and is expected to vote on both on June 25.

  Julie BUTCHER