LIHU‘E — It’s going to cost you more to fill up that bathtub starting Jan. 1. The county Department of Water reminds users that water rates will increase on the first of the year. The increase is the latest in
LIHU‘E — It’s going to cost you more to fill up that bathtub starting Jan. 1.
The county Department of Water reminds users that water rates will increase on the first of the year. The increase is the latest in a series of annual 8.5-percent rate increases that began in 2006.
The increase is based on a comprehensive study conducted in 2005 on the Department of Water’s projected revenues and expenditures that recommended the implementation of a series of five annual 8.5-percent rate increases.
The water consumption rate will increase from $2.45 to $2.65 per 1,000 gallons for the standard residential 5/8-inch meter within the first-block, initial 20,000 gallon.
For the portion of the bi-monthly consumption that exceeds 20,000 gallons, the second-block rate will be assessed. The second block assessment will increase from $3.10 to $3.40 per 1,000 gallons for consumption of 20,001 to 40,000 gallons.
The highest-volume residential consumers with usage in excess of 40,000 gallons will pay a rate of $4.90 per 1,000 gallons.
The Department instituted an “inverted block” rate structure for its general use rates and a block structure for agricultural-use rate consumption. The “inverted block” rate structure encourages water conservation as the rate increases will have a smaller impact on low volume usage.
The monthly service charge for each customer account, general and agricultural, will also increase based on the meter size or its service capacity equivalent.
Although the bill amounts will vary depending on the individual usage, for a typical single family residence with a bi-monthly usage of 25,000 gallons, the overall increase will be approximately $7.50 per billing cycle.
More information on the water rate schedule can be found on the Department of Water’s website at www.kauaiwater.org,
