Policy - Policy for Charging Efland Sewer Customers with Wells

Browse Search

1201 to 150Q square feet, 1501 to 1800 square feet, and greater than 1800 square feet, there is a nearly straight-lzne increase in average water use. However, unlike the OWASA study which showed a five- folddifference in water use between its smallest and largest home size ranges, the Efland analysis shows only anapproximate thirty percent increase from the.smallest to the largest home size ranges. There are a number of reasons why the Efland study has produced results that differ so drastically from those produced by the OSASA study. Amang_ the most telling of these are that: I) the houses in Efland are much smaller and less expensive than those in the- OWASA service area and have fewer water- consumingamenities such as whirlpool baths, hot tubs, swimming pools and lawn irrigation systems; 2} the average income of the residents -of Efland is much lower resulting in more financially conservative consumption characteristics; and 3) Efland is still a primarily rural area which would typically be expected to exhibit more conservative water use practices man those of the. urbanized OWASA service area The primary implication of the Efland water use analysis is that a sliding fee scale based solely on a prof ected relationship between_home size and system demand/impact can provide a thirty percent difference. between the bottom and top of the scale. Based on a $1000 mid-range fee, homes falling in the lowest range would pay approximately $850 while homes in the largest range will pay approximately $1150. Engineering staff are currently in the- process of preparing a more formal reporting of this analysis, outlining the process of data collection and analysis, comparing the Efland report and outcome with the OWASA study, noting the problems ofcollecting Efland data and shortcomings in that data, etc. That report will be submitted to the BOCC later in March: A simple chart summarizing the relationship between water use and home size is attached to this memorandum. If j-may provide additional information at this time, please advise.