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Water restrictions could boost costs to consumers, farmers

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 18, 2008 at 8:00 am

From the Bakersfield Californian:

Water districts that rely on the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta for much of their water supply are fuming over a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision that could potentially hike water rates for consumers and hurt farmers already smarting from a drought.

“We believe these are dangerous regulations and they will severely impact water users in Kern County and throughout the state,” said Jim Beck, general manager of the Kern County Water Agency, which contracts for water on behalf of agricultural, municipal and industrial water districts in Kern.

Assuming that y’all know the background here, how will this affect Kern County?

For now, water rates for customers of California Water Service Co. should not be affected, said Bakersfield district manager Tim Treloar. Wells and other sources of water have thus far helped the company through the period since the court-ordered pumping restrictions took effect, Treloar said.

But wells must be replenished or new water sources found, and over the long-term, rates will probably have to go up if nothing changes, he said.

That said, Treloar added it’s unlikely that the status quo will continue. “There’s no easy fix to this, but it has to get fixed and it will,” he said. “Agriculture, urban and environmental interests cannot dominate the delta, any of them. We’re going to have to get in balance.”

Read more from the Bakersfield Californian by clicking here.

December 18, 2008 · Filed Under Judge Wanger delta smelt ruling

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