 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Water rates trickle back down
By LOGAN D. MABE, Times Staff Writer
TAMPA -- After months of crunching numbers, the county Water Department and several large suburban subdivisions reached a compromise Wednesday on increased reclaimed water rates. The new rates, approved unanimously by county commissioners, will encourage conservation of the popular irrigation source without breaking the budgets of homeowner associations. Commercial clients, including Carrollwood Village and the Northdale Special Tax District, will pay 10 cents per 1,000 gallons for the first 15,000 gallons used each month, and 20 cents per 1,000 gallons for the next 15,000 gallons. Above that, users will pay 50 cents per 1,000 gallons. Commissioners in April approved much higher reclaimed water rates as a way to reduce commercial use and allow more clients to sign on. But the rates, coming at the height of last summer's drought, caused reclaimed water bills in places such as Carrollwood Village to jump by 300 percent to 500 percent. "We were concerned about the tremendous rate increase we saw," said Northdale property manager Rick Pitrowkski. "We do everything we can to keep our bills low and to conserve water, but when our water bills tripled, that was kind of scary." Carrollwood Village property manager Dan Ruskiewicz went on the offensive and appealed to county water managers for some wiggle room. Ruskiewicz pointed out that, despite the neighborhood's lush appearance, he was actually using only about half of the amount of water deemed reasonable to maintain green grass. "They've done a good job, and we should reward them for that," said Commissioner Jim Norman. "The data shows they've been very efficient," said Water Department director Mike McWeeney. After the vote approving the revised -- and lower -- rates, Ruskiewicz said, "This is a program we can live with." -- Logan D. Mabe can be reached at 269-5304 or at mabe@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times |
