Council okays 21 percent increase in water rates
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

The Thousand Oaks City Council unanimously approved a 21 percent water rate increase for customers served by the city's water provider.

Beginning Nov. 9 rates will increase 13 percent for the city's 16,000 customers, and on July 1, 2008, an 8 percent increase will go into effect.

"We're somewhat captive to the water wholesalers," said public works director Mark Watkins.

At the Sept. 25 council meeting Watkins said the majority of the increase is due to a rate increase from Calleguas Municipal Water District, the city's water supplier.

"Two-thirds of our overall water budget is wholesale. When increases come, we need to raise our rates to accommodate them," Watkins said.

Another 5 percent increase from the wholesaler has been announced since the city notified customers of the current rate increase.

The city is looking into the possibility of changing to a tiered rate system--charging more to customers who use more--to encourage water conservation, Watkins said.

Councilmember Dennis Gillette's request for better maps to explain the different service areas in Thousand Oaks was also discussed during the public hearing.

City officials also noted that higher water rates were being paid by those who live in the Westlake Village area of Thousand Oaks. Their wastewater goes toward Malibu Creek and is treated at Las Virgenes wastewater treatment facility, whereas the less expensive Hill Canyon wastewater treatment facility is used by most Thousand Oaks residents.

Gravity determines which residents' wastewater goes where. The watershed in one area of Thousand Oaks goes toward Malibu Creek. It would be costly and difficult to try to engineer that system back into the city, Watkins said, since it would require more pumps and an expansion of the Hill Canyon facility.