Moses Lake hopes to reduce overwatering with rate adjustments

MOSES LAKE — Some residents in Moses Lake will see a change in their water bills this month.

Beginning on March 9, irrigation and residential customers who use more than 10,000 cubic feet of water per month will be billed at a new Tier 4 rate.

“We don't want your money. We want your water,” Moses Lake City Council Member David Skaug said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “And I think that needs to be something that is clearly understood, that this isn't to penalize anybody, but it's to try to get as much water for other development as we can. And people need to prudently use the water that they get.”

The entire water rate schedule will be updated April 1, according to an announcement from the city. Existing rates include three tiers. Tier 1 users, who use 1,000 square feet or less per month will stay at the same rate, $0.46 per 100 cubic feet. Tier 2 users, who go through 1,001-5,000 cubic feet, and Tier 3 users, at 5,001-10,000 cubic feet, will pay $1.40 and $2.78 per 100 cubic feet, respectively.

The new Tier 4 rate will be $3.75 per 100 cubic feet, as well as a $250 excess use charge.

One cubic foot of water equals about 7 ½ gallons.

“There are several users, but not certainly not the majority, that use a significantly larger amount of water than the average person does here,” said Mayor Dustin Swartz. “There's been debate back and forth as to what the average really should be in an arid desert climate but regardless, there are these users who we've identified that use far more than their fair share, to an extent where it's not understandable in some cases where they're putting the water.”

“When you're starting off at 10,000, on this tier, that actually translates into 75,000 gallons a month,” Council Member Victor Lombardi said. “That's a pretty large number for a three- or four-bedroom house to be using on a consistent basis.”

Also in the new regulations is a provision that the city will no longer offer after-hours water turn-on for delinquent accounts. Water will instead be restored the next business day after the account is current. The watering schedule that was adopted last year will remain in effect: odd-numbered addresses may irrigate Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, while even-numbered addresses may water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and all day on Mondays.

“We've struggled with this over a few years with increased water rates, and that just didn't seem to be working,” said Council Member Deanna Martinez. “So we're going to try things a little differently. It does sound extreme, but as Mayor Swartz mentioned, it's unfortunately a small group of people in comparison to everybody. So I want to thank all those who are diligent about their water use.”

Joel Martin may be reached via email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.