No, but here’s what pisses me off. We used less, so we should be paid less. But that cut into revenues, so they increased the bill. Now, even cut back as we are, we won’t be paying that much less anymore. Sure, using more would cost more, but basically they just punished us for being conservative with water and cutting back, by charging us more. Assholes.
If you don’t fix your leak, it will waste ONE…MILLION…POUNDS.
In CA, we just give it all, cheap, to the farmers. I remember forced conservation during the last drought and driving through the Central Valley (100 deg + in the summer) and the almond farmers were watering their crops with old style sprinklers in the middle of the day-- just spraying the stuff into the (very dry) air without any thought to how much was being wasted. They didn’t need to care,
:eek:
The almond farmers have gotten John Mace !!!
I was wondering what you meant, and then I noticed I didn’t finish my post. 
They didn’t need to care because water is so cheap for them. IIRC, residential water use in CA accounts for about 10 or 15% of the water we use in the state. And it’s not just the almond farmers. We grow tons of rice in what is essentially a desert. But you can’t blame the farmers, except for the ones that lobby for this shit. They’re just making smart economic choices in a distorted environment.
Yeah, I thought maybe AlmondPAC’s got you in their sights.
Separately, WTF misting? I bet the almond trees felt very refreshed.
I’m curious what other people are paying for water. Our monthly bill is about $175 in the summer. It’s just the two of us here. Seems high but I have nothing to compare it to since this is our first house. The apartments we lived in always had a fixed rate - usually $25.
You’re meaning domestic water, right? I also live in the desert but our domestic water bills are very low, maybe $100 per month for a two-person house on 1 acre of turf.
Irrigation-wise we are part of an association that allows us a share of the Colorado River. We pay about $185 per year for more than 25 acre feet.
Err, I guess so. As opposed to what?
Sorry, I was trying to fix that but missed the edit window.
Irrigation water like what Mace was talking about.
Anyway if you’ve got a lawn in Phoenix you’re going to be paying a ton for water. Otherwise, $175 seems high. No more bubblebaths!
:o How’d you know?
Why have you got a thing for bubblebaths today? Are you jonesing for one? 
Yeah you’re right. I’ve been trying to convince my wife that we need a pool and a hot tub. I’m dreaming of that hot tub right now. Rainy. Cold. Got a fire going.
While I have no idea how to read this bill, my other property in Orange County, CA (closer to you in terms of reference), my bill for a 3 bedroom townhouse is 24.38. My HOA doesn’t cover (or only partially covers water, I can’t tell, as this bill is incomprehensible). I’m think I remember the realtor telling me that water wasn’t included (but garbage is), that’s why the HOA is so low. Then again, I’m not exactly sure how much the current tenants are using water as they travel a lot.
Our utility has an on-line guide tells ya how to read it. We pay 1.93 per thousand gallons. Our usage is about 9 thousand gallons per month (15-month average). We have sewer, garbage service and recycling added on the bill.
Cost per million gallons of water from my well: whatever it costs in electricity to run the pump. Plus amortization of a drilled well and replacement of a deep well pump once every 20-30 years. The total can’t be more than a few pennies per thousand gallons.
One thing I am not worried about is running out of water. Lake Michigan is at my doorstep and readily replenishes my 300-ft deep well without fail.
In Torrance, CA (South Bay - Santa Monica Bay, that is), I’m paying $1.947 per CCF (100 cubic feet = 748 gallons according to the back of the bill) + another .30 per CCF for a sewer maintenance fee. That’s for usage. There’s also a water service charge and a pumping charge that add up to $7.50/month.
The city gets its water from the MWD, which means most of it is from either the Colorado River or the Northern Sierras.