The water problem needs more than lip service

The front page article of the July 31 issue of the Thousand Oaks Acorn, ''Despite pleas to save water, demand is going up locally," projects a likely water crisis in the near future. But what are the water supply officials locally and statewide doing about it? It seems to me that their crisis prevention responses are feeble or nonexistent.

In the article, Mr. Bergh of the Calleguas Municipal Water District states, "Mandatory restrictions are likely to be enforced next year if the demand doesn't slow."

I believe him. But the only measures currently in effect to slow demand are pleas to save water- - along with the usual tips on how to do so. Water company incentives for water saving primarily address in-home use, which they estimate at only 30 percent of total domestic use.

The other 70 percent is outside the home for landscaping, mostly lawns, and there the incentives offered are few.

I'm pretty sure I know what the mandatory restrictions, if enacted, are likely to be. Sacramento water users are already being asked to voluntarily cut back 10 percent on water use. This applies across the board to all users, even those who have heeded past entreaties to conserve and have already taken measures to cut their usage. Unfair!

I think a major culprit in the water crises that seem to arise every few years is the rate structure. I've been amazed at how low our water bill is. It's only a fraction of our gas, electric or even cellphone bills. The rates are based strictly on what it costs the water company to bring the water to the customer. This works okay when there's adequate supply, but when water gets scarce, there's no apparent mechanism to allow rates to rise to reduce demand. Has anyone calculated how much rates would have to rise to reduce demand by 10 percent?

Probably not. I'm guessing a factor of three.

Mr. Bergh is probably right. A crisis is looming.

But a much more aggressive management approach is needed to avert or blunt it. Richard Durand Thousand Oaks