Supervisors to consider water rate hike

Carson City's water rates could rise significantly this year to offset costs.

Two 14 percent hikes are being sought: One would begin in February and the other in July.

The board of supervisors will consider the hikes Thursday.

The most recent water-rate hike was in 2005, when supervisors approved two 7 percent increases.

Some residents say the increases would hurt.

"For people in government, it's a million or billion here or there, but for homeowners it's still five bucks here, 10 bucks here," said Lakeview resident Bruce Kittess.

"I used to snicker when seniors would say 'I'm on a fixed income,' but once you're retired for a while you understand what they're saying," said Kittess, who has been retired for 10 years.

He and many others living on the edge of the city consider fire protection important and do what they can to make their property resistant to wildfires, including having lawns.

While Kittess said he expects some people will water less, one local expert said people can compensate by using more efficient ways to water.

"A lot of lawn watering is wasted - more than 50 percent," said JoAnne Skelly, Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. "The rates going up, I think, won't be significant if people learn how to water properly."

She suggests that people consider such things as weather conditions, water pressure, coverage, soil type and the slope of each watering site before watering. Cooperative Extension is working with Washoe County and the Desert Research Institute to help residents there learn more about how to water in the most efficient way.

Carson City residents can learn more about this program by contacting Skelly at 887-2252 or visiting http://www.washoeet.dri.edu/index.html

The city expects to require $18.7 million to complete water-replacement projects through 2011, such as $5.5 million to relocate water lines because of the freeway project and $3.2 million to reduce the amount of arsenic in the water supply.

The proposed raises represent an 11 percent increase in operations and maintenance, which includes power costs, chemicals, water sampling, wholesale water purchases and leases; a 3 percent increase for water supply improvements; a 6 percent increase to improve the water system; a 4 percent increase to improve water quality; and a 4 percent increase for other capital improvements, according to city officials.

Water service is one of the city's enterprise programs. These are services that aren't funded by tax revenues but by user fees, and operate similar to businesses. More than half of the city's budget is comprised of "enterprise" services, which are expected to require $60 million during this fiscal year ending June 30.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

If you go

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: 8:30 a.m. Thursday

Where: Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

Call: 887-2100

For your information:

To learn about ways to water more efficiently, contact JoAnne Skelly, Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, at 887-2252 or visit www.washoeet.dri.edu/index.html.