Sewer Service Charge Program

This is to rebut Richard Fine’s contentions of Jan. 25 concerning the city of Los Angeles sewer service charge program (“Disagreement Over New Sewer Rates,” Letters to the Valley Edition).

First, it is the height of self-promotion for attorney Fine to claim that a lawsuit, filed July 31, 1996, caused the reorganization of the city’s sewer service charge program by April 5, 1997, the effective date of the new method. In fact, the method, based on a customer’s water use during the winter, has been under development by the city for more than five years.

Second, while sub-meters have been available since 1996, Fine did not mention how few customers chose to install them--primarily because of the cost of isolating a typical dwelling’s irrigation piping (including hose bibs and pool fill lines) from piping serving only plumbing fixtures.

Fine also did not mention that sub-meters only estimate water discharged to the sewer since some water is used for cooking, drinking, ice making and indoor plant irrigation. Only a device connected to the sewer line will accurately measure sewage--not yet practical technology. This is why none of the 845 jurisdictions across the country, including the 50 largest, use metering to measure residential sewer use.

Finally, by statute the waste water program itself is self-supporting. All sewer service charge money is deposited into a special fund from which all sewerage related costs and charges are paid. Refunds, meters or other “remedies” sought by Fine must come from additional borrowing, reduction of sewer system improvements or increased sewer service charges.

MICHAEL L. CLAESSENS

Deputy City Attorney

Los Angeles