Moses Lake reviews water rates, seeks public input

In the name of conservation, the city of Moses Lake is taking a more individualized approach to water and sewer rates.

Residents met at the council chambers Wednesday to air their comments, questions and concerns based on a proposed rate calculator. For folks who missed the meeting, another will be held in late August or early September, said city finance director Cindy Jensen.

The proposed changes are based on a 2019 study by the Redmond-based financial consulting firm FCS Group, which found Moses Lake residents are paying more than their fair share.

Terms will be different per type of use. Low water users will see a $3 to $4 decrease in their monthly bill.

The top 20% of bills, however, will see an increase — the more water used, the higher the bill. Commercial property owners, under the rate change, will pay a flat rate of $10.40 per unit per month, as opposed to a sliding scale based on meter size and water usage.

Multi-family homes may see a big increase, said Jensen. However, all of these changes will likely not occur all at once, but in a five-year phase-in period.

“Most residential (units) will be flat or even ultimately decrease,” Jensen said. “Probably just stay flat, so the inflation rates will probably end up going to the industrial/commercial.”

To see how this will affect an individual home based on meter size, number of units and water usage, residents can enter this information on a rate calculator on cityofml.com.

Council will vote on official terms of the change in September or October of this year, and the changes would take effect in 2022.

Water is one of the city’s biggest concerns right now, said Mayor David Curnel. While water is a limited resource, much of it is simply being wasted due to poor conservation practices.

At this rate, it could slow the city’s growth, he said. Adequately funding the water and sewer system across all rate classes is vital to foster a growing community.

“When we look at industry coming in, we have to look at what’s that going to cost us in terms of water,” he said.

The Washington Administrative Code requires water systems to evaluate the feasibility of a rate structure encouraging water demand efficiency. This new rate structure would incentivize conservation, as well as provide financial stability, to reduce the likelihood of future sudden rate spikes.

According to the city website, it has been more than a decade since water and sewer rates have been reviewed. Since then, many residential and commercial projects have risen in the city. With more being planned, it puts more stress on the water supply.

In 2012, the city conducted a study and since then has been acquiring water rights and developing wells.

“(Water is) a limited resource, and the aquifers that we draw, the deep well is going down,” Jensen said.

Wells have had difficulty keeping up with fire protection standards. So in 2018, a water conservation program came into practice in July and August of each year.

“(The rate changes are) good, scientific-based,” Jensen said. “There’s a good study that supports it all, and by state law, we’re supposed to charge classes of customers what their cost is.”

The city is required to update its Water Comprehensive Plan every six years and the Sewer Comprehensive Plan once the treatment plant reaches 75% capacity. It’s currently at more than 50% capacity, and based on the city’s growth, both are in the process of being updated.

Education is the most important part of water conservation, Jensen said.

“That’s the whole point, is to get you to think about how you’re using your water,” she said. “This actually disincentivizes using a lot.”