CAMARILLO : Water Rates Reduced for Homeowners

Camarillo homeowners will get a break on their water rates, at least until the Metropolitan Water District increases its prices in July.

The City Council adopted lower rates last week to pass along the benefits of a relaxation in conservation measures by MWD, which supplies water to Camarillo through the Calleguas Municipal Water District.

Council members voted 4 to 1 to adjust the four-tiered water-rate system after a sparsely attended, late-night public hearing. Starting with the first tier, the more water a homeowner uses, the greater the per-unit increase.

The new rates cut by half the per-unit costs for the bigger users in the third and fourth tiers and allow users in the first tier to use more water for the same price.

Vice Mayor Charlotte Craven voted against the motion, saying she supported a more liberal alternative that would have allowed residents to use more units of water in each tier.

But the other council members said adopting the alternative proposal would send the wrong message to residents.

Councilman David Smith said he voted for the changes because although the drought is over, residents should be encouraged to continue conserving water.

Under the new rates, a single family in the first tier will continue to pay 80 cents for each unit of water, for up to 14 units. The former ceiling for this tier was 12 units.

The per-unit price in the second tier drops from $1.60 to $1.20, for up to 23 units. For the third tier, the per-unit price decreases from $3.20 to $1.60, for up to 30 units.

And the per-unit price in the fourth tier falls from $6.40 to $3.20, for those who use more than 30 units.