Water Hookup Rates May Rise

The Ventura County water agency that provides water service to Moorpark is proposing to more than double its rates for new residential and commercial hookups to help pay for future water projects.

Water Works District No. 1 is proposing to increase its capital improvement charge from $635 to $1,510 per building, with a provision to adjust that fee annually based on increased construction costs, county officials said.

With the potential for 7,500 new water connections, it is estimated that the proposed rate increase will generate $12.8 million by 2010.

The additional revenue will be used to build new waterlines and storage facilities to better serve Moorpark as it continues to grow, according to county officials.

Current water customers or property owners who have already applied for building permits would not be affected by the proposed rate increase.

Concerned about the impact on new housing construction, representatives of the Building Industry Assn. have proposed that water consumers shoulder more of the costs of future water projects.

But John Crowley, county deputy public works director, said that a portion of the fees now paid by ratepayers goes toward capital improvements.

He also noted that most of the new improvements that will be needed are because of projected growth in Moorpark.

“So we believe most of the burden should be placed on new construction,” he said.

Crowley said that rates for new water connections have not increased since 1987.