New Pump Will Lower Consumers’ Water Bills : Utilities: Customers in Newhall County district are expected to save about $5 per month, officials say.

Customers in the Newhall County Water District will begin saving about $5 a month when a new, more efficient well pump goes into full operation later this year, officials said.

A variable-speed motor installed on the largest of the district’s seven wells will allow officials to control the amount of water pumped from the ground more efficiently, said Jean Di Angelous, the district’s acting general manager. The well provides 40% of the district’s water supply.

“This one can control the speed and put out just the right amount of water needed,” said Ed Dunn, a water district board member. “The old ones are either on or off.”

The new motor, scheduled to begin operating this week, will save the district about $100,000 a year, Di Angelous said. For customers, that means a savings of $3 to $5 per month on energy charges, which are typically $14 a month and account for about a quarter of the average water bill.

However, the energy savings will not materialize until the well is operating at full capacity, which is not expected until spring or summer, Di Angelous said.

Di Angelous said the district hopes to install the new motor on its other pumps, but the $500,000 cost per pump will force the changes to be made gradually. He said other water companies throughout the state have been using the new pump for several years.

The district also received a $37,000 check from Southern California Edison Co. on Friday as part of a rebate program that provides money to agencies using energy-saving devices, said Christina Bradley, area manager for Edison.