Chapter 7.05
WATER SERVICE RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
7.05.010 Water service charges.
7.05.015 Rate adjustments during declared water supply shortages.
7.05.020 Cost recovery fees and charges.
7.05.030 Capacity charges for full service treated water.
7.05.010 Water service charges.
The board establishes water rates, fees and charges in order to recover the cost of providing services to customers. Rates and fees are routinely reviewed to ensure that the district operates in a financially prudent and cost-effective manner while delivering a safe, reliable water supply. Current rates and fees can be found in the district’s Fee and Rate Manual available from the engineering department. The Fee and Rate Manual includes water service charges for full service and agricultural customers, potable and nonpotable water, and temporary fire hydrant meters, as well as miscellaneous charges such as late penalties and water service shutoff fees.
For most of the district’s customers with a permanent meter, the water bill consists of the following charges: water charge, pumping charge, system charge, MWD readiness-to-serve charge, and water reliability charge. All water volume-related charges are billed in units, with each unit equal to 100 cubic feet (HCF) or 748 gallons.
A. Water Charge. The water charge is a per-unit charge based on water usage that recovers the cost of the water (either imported from outside of Western’s boundaries or extracted from groundwater sources). The water charge also recovers the cost of treating the water to ensure that it is safe to drink, and includes a component for operations and maintenance costs, and may include a component to fund efficiency programs.
B. Pumping Charge. The pumping charge is a per-unit charge that recovers the power cost to move water throughout the system and ultimately to customers. The power cost is affected by the elevation (pressure zone) and the distance a customer’s property is from the water source.
C. System Charge. The system charge is a monthly fee based on meter size and not on water usage. Revenue from this charge is used to pay for such costs as:
1. Maintenance and repair of the water system’s infrastructure such as reservoirs, pipelines, and pumping stations;
2. Engineering labor and related costs for planning and development of the entire water system;
3. Customer service and meter reading labor and related costs;
4. Funding a reserve for future replacement of water system infrastructure.
D. MWD Readiness-to-Serve Charge. The readiness-to-serve charge (RTS charge) is a monthly fee based on meter size and not on water usage. It is a pass-through charge from MWD. Most of the water the district imports into its service area to meet customer demand is purchased from MWD. MWD uses the RTS charge to pay for emergency and standby storage facilities, such as Diamond Valley Lake.
E. Water Reliability Charge. The water reliability charge is a per-unit charge. Revenue from this charge is dedicated to funding construction projects and other capital costs related to increasing water system capacity and improving the long-term sustainability of the water supply. (Ord. 392 § 3 (Exh. B), 2020)
7.05.015 Rate adjustments during declared water supply shortages.
The board of directors hereby authorizes the general manager or his or her authorized designee to amend Exhibit “B” of the district’s rules and regulations governing water service (WMWDC 7.05.010) to reflect the adjustments to the district’s water service fees which will be imposed during the applicable water supply shortage stage as determined under the water supply shortage contingency program. The applicable provisions of Exhibit “B” are incorporated herein by reference. As a result, the water service fees imposed at certain tiers, based on budget-based allocations, will be increased during a water supply shortage stage depending on which stage is in effect as determined under the water supply shortage contingency program. (Res. 2898 § 4, 2015)
7.05.020 Cost recovery fees and charges.
A. Service Connection Installation Charges. All treated water installations over six inches or untreated installations over 12 inches require special approval by the district engineer. All meters must operate within the designated flow ranges or the district will require the customer to purchase a different size meter and service. The general manager may waive a deposit in extreme circumstances.
1. Backflow Prevention Assemblies. If the district determines a service requires a backflow prevention assembly, the cost of the backflow assembly, installation, initial testing, testing, repairs, and/or replacement will be the responsibility of the customer. Backflow assemblies are customer-owned and they are the customer’s responsibility to maintain. On an annual basis (or more often if deemed by district), in compliance with the state of California Code of Regulations, the district sends each customer owning a backflow assembly notification to have their assembly tested by a Riverside County certified backflow tester. The result of the test is sent to the district. Non-compliance fees will apply (see WMWDC 5.15.070).
2. Resource Management Fee. To meet the water conservation requirements for new development under the MWD annexation policy and the county and/or city of Riverside water efficient landscape requirements, the district will incur certain costs. These costs will help to ensure compliance with landscape water use efficiency requirements. A resource management fee will be charged to each new meter installation connected to a domestic water pipeline in order to cover such costs.
3. Provisional Water Service Agreements (PWSA). The purpose of the PWSA agreement is to eliminate long services and the distribution system fee that was previously charged. The PWSA agreement was adopted by Resolution 2857 by the district’s board of directors to calculate a fee up to $30,000.00 for the customer’s share of future construction of a distribution pipeline to front their property. The fee will be adjusted annually by the Engineering News-Record Construction Cost Index (ENR CCI). For agreements where a customer’s share exceeds the $30,000 cap, board approval is required. (Ord. 392 (Exh. C), 2020)
7.05.030 Capacity charges for full service treated water.
A. North and South Service Area Capacity Charges. Unless waived by an agreement signed by the district’s general manager, in which the applicant agrees to provide facilities equal to or in excess of the value capacity charge(s) (CC), all applicants for service connection installation in the North and South Service Areas must pay CC.
Capacity charge(s) for services located in the North Service Area, which require meters larger than two inches in size, are to be calculated by multiplying the current CC from the Fee and Rate Manual for a three-quarter-inch meter for this area by using the following calculation:
|
Meter Size |
|
CC Rate x Times |
|---|---|---|
|
1 1/2" meter |
= |
3.33 times |
|
2" meter |
= |
5.33 times |
|
3" meter |
= |
10 times |
|
4" meter |
= |
16.67 times |
|
6" meter |
= |
33.33 times |
Capacity charge(s) for services located in the South Service Area with one inch and smaller are based on the pressure zone in which the service is located. Capacity charges for services requiring meters larger than one inch in size are to be calculated by multiplying the current CC for a one-inch meter for this area by using the following table calculation:
|
Meter Size |
|
CC Rate x Times |
|---|---|---|
|
1 1/2" meter |
= |
2 times |
|
2" meter |
= |
3.2 times |
|
3" meter |
= |
6 times |
|
4" meter |
= |
10 times |
|
6" meter |
= |
20 times |
Rates for capacity charges are located online in the district’s Fee and Rate Manual.
Commercial and industrial services are required to pay an additional per acre charge at the current rate from the district’s Fee and Rate Manual to cover fire flow requirements. In the case where it is desired by the customer, or required by the district, to increase the size of the meter, and the new meter is connected to the same distribution system, the CC due is the difference of the CC for the larger meter less the CC listed for the existing meter.
In the case where it is desired by the customer, or required by the district, to decrease the size of a meter or abandon a meter connected to a potable water system within either the North or the South Service Area, and at the same time install new service to accommodate development of the land, the charge due is the sum of these charges on all new meters less a credit for the existing meter, provided the new meters are connected to the same distribution system.
Any credit due to the customer will be determined by the district. In any case, the credit shall not exceed the charges and the credit cannot be credited toward any other charges. This credit shall be determined after the application is received and fees are calculated. Carryover or assignment of credits will not be allowed. All credits for meters larger than six inches will be made at the rate of a six-inch meter (refer to subsection D of this section, Collection Timing).
B. Murrieta Service Area Capacity Charge(s). All applicants for service connection installation in the Murrieta service area must pay capacity charge(s) (CC) based on where the parcel is located within the area served.
1. Applicable Fee. The capacity charge when water service initially comes from one zone and is ultimately used in another shall be determined based on the higher of the two rates.
2. Untreated to Treated Water System Reconnections. In those instances where it is desired by a customer connected to a water distribution system originally constructed and operated for the delivery of raw water to disconnect an existing agricultural service from the untreated water system and to reconnect a water system originally constructed and operated for the delivery of treated water, this change may be approved subject to the following conditions:
a. The relocated service shall be required to purchase water at the rate applicable for the system to which it is connected and comply with the rules and regulations of that system;
b. The relocated service shall not be required to pay capacity charges;
c. The relocated service customer shall be required to fund the installation of a district-approved backflow prevention assembly;
d. The relocated service shall not incur any capacity charge credits normally due when a larger meter connected to a system originally constructed and operated for the purpose of delivering treated water is exchanged for smaller meter(s);
e. The relocated service will have to pay the capacity charge due if water use is changed from agricultural to domestic consumption;
f. The relocation of service must be approved by the general manager;
g. The customer is responsible for preparing flushing and disinfection of their on-site system.
C. New Demand Charge. As of October 16, 1995, all applicants for a new domestic service connection shall pay a new demand charge (NDC). The fees can be found in the Fee and Rate Manual. The NDC for services requiring meters larger than one inch in size are to be calculated by multiplying the NDC for a three-quarter-inch meter by using the following calculation below and referencing the Fee and Rate Manual:
|
Meter Size |
|
NDC Charge x Times |
|---|---|---|
|
1 1/2" meter |
= |
3.33 times |
|
2" meter |
= |
5.33 times |
|
3" meter |
= |
10 times |
|
4" meter |
= |
16.67 times |
|
6" meter |
= |
33.33 times |
D. Collection Timing. All applicants for water service connection shall be required to pay all applicable connection fees and charges within the following time limits:
1. Capacity Charge. Capacity (CC) charges will be based on the current fees as of the date of meter installation. For tract development only, jumpers may be installed with payment of the current fees at the time; however, if fees change between jumper installation and meter installation, additional fees, if any, will be due prior to meter installation. (Ord. 392 (Exh. D), 2020)