Council talks about water rate hikes, state's mandated water reductions

Unfortunately in order to adhere to the compliance order, issued just this week, Lemoore must undertake a number of efforts, including completing a water rate study, conducting water audits to commercial, industrial and residential users and more.

According to a memo from City Manager Andi Welsh to councilmembers, there are no specific funds budgeted to comply with the compliance order, nor is state funding available. She also said that there are currently just two part-time maintenance employees that conduct water inspections to enforce residential restrictions.

There is no process in place to appeal deadlines or elements of the order, stated Welsh.

According to the latest water statistics, Lemoore continues to fall dramatically short of its goal, instead coming in at a woeful 22 percent, 10 percent below its mandated figure.

Lemoore was not alone in its struggle to conserve water. Hanford is ranked one of the worst in water compliance, at last notice checking in with a poor 11.7 percent compliance. Hanford was mandated to reduce water usage by 28 percent.

The root of the non-compliance is the water used by its major industrial users. City officials have praised the efforts of the public. Water statistics show that residential use has dropped dramatically over the past few months. However, industrial use has not. City officials admit that Lemoore’s major users of water, led by Leprino Foods, with two major cheese plants in Lemoore are contributing to Lemoore’s poor figures. There are also two tomato processing plants that use a fair share of water.

The State Water Resources Board agreed with Lemoore’s assessment of industrial use and issued the compliance order, but with restrictions.

Councilmembers will also get an update from city engineer Rick Joyner regarding the water rate study, one of the important elements of the state’s compliance order. The initial phase of the water study has been completed and council needs to approve phase 2. Joyner, in his report said that newly proposed water rates will replace those adopted in 2007. The new rates, to begin in 2015-16 will use an incremental increase for the duration of the water rate study, typically 5 years.

The water department currently has a deficit and because of the state mandated water restrictions the city is expected to see a reduction in revenue to the tune of $150,000.