SIMI VALLEY : Water Overusers Face Higher Fees

The penalty for failing to meet water conservation goals has been increased for businesses, multiple-family dwellings and other non-single-family water customers in Simi Valley who are served by the Calleguas Municipal Water District.

The Simi Valley City Council, acting as Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8, voted Monday to implement the changes as a result of penalty increases by the Metropolitan Water District. About 60% of the city gets its water from Calleguas, which distributes MWD water in Ventura County.

Effective Oct. 1, MWD increased its penalty by $50 per acre-foot, from $394 to $444, city officials said.

For MWD’s Simi Valley customers, that means that the penalty for overuse increases from $1.74 to $1.86 per billing unit for non-agricultural users. For agricultural customers, the penalty charge rises from $1.72 to $1.84 per unit.

The penalty applies to agricultural, industrial, commercial and multiple-family customers who fail to meet conservation goals based on 1989-90 usage, said Michael Kleinbrodt, deputy director of public works. Under MWD’s conservation plan, agricultural customers must cut water usage by 50%, while all other customers must cut back by 20%.

For single-family residents, the penalty will remain at $1.47 per billing unit.

The rate changes do not apply to about 40% of Simi Valley residents who are served by the Southern California Water Co., Kleinbrodt said.