A water meter The average residential city water company customer will see an increase in cost of 16 percent in November and 12 percent in July 2010 if proposed rate changes are approved by the City Council during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tues., Sept. 22.

The average customer uses 23 hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water per month and pays $69.86 per month, according to public works director Mark Watkins. Their bill would increase to $81.36 per month after the first rate increase, he said.

If the same customer reduced consumption by 15 percent, his water bill would stay the same.

The water rates proposed were calculated to cover increases in the cost of water, operating and maintenance expenses, along with the price of capital improvements. The city water company is legally restricted from making a profit but tries to break even.

Recently the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California increased its rates. That means Calleguas Municipal Water District, a wholesaler that buys water from MWD must pay more before selling it to the three companies that provide water to Thousand Oaks: the city water company, California American Water and California Water Company.

The supply of water coming into Southern California through the MWD has been reduced due to a decrease in the population of smelt fish, which are deemed endangered by California wildlife experts.

Some say the low smelt population is due to their being sucked into water pumps; others blame pesticides. Whatever the cause, the dwindling smelt population has resulted in a lawsuit that has slowed the pumping of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Meanwhile, water prices also go up with increasing demand coupled with less availability.

Water districts must pay higher prices to get water from outside the delta while still paying off bonds purchased to build the infrastructure necessary to pump water from the delta.

The public hearing will be at city hall in council chambers, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Written protests on the proposed rate changes can be delivered to the city clerk at city hall or brought to the public hearing, but they must be submitted before the close of the public hearing.

The water customer’s name and signature must be on the protest, and “Water Rate Increase” must be written on the envelope, along with a return address. The City Council won’t consider telephone and e-mail responses as official written protests. For more information, call (805) 449-2100.

Reading your water meter will tell you how much water you’re using and whether you have a leak. Most meters are located near the curb in front of your home or business, under a concrete lid.

Billing units are in hundred cubic feet or HCF. To obtain HCF, read all digits except the last two. Subtract your last reading from the current reading to determine your use in hundred cubic feet. To convert your usage to gallons, multiply by 750. One HCF equals 748 gallons.

To check for leaks, turn off all water inside and outside your residence. If the flow indicator, the colored plastic triangle on the face of the meter, moves or rotates you have a water leak.

Don’t leave your water meter lid open––even for a minute––while you’re not beside it.