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 Despite the fact that the Los Angeles residents have reduced their water consumption by about 16 percent over the past year, including the nine months under the LADWP mandatory water conservation measures, the utility has still seen a 27 percent increase in revenue.
The celebrated 32-year low in water use that DWP touted last month did not prevent revenue from rising in the last year. Information obtained through a California Public Records Act request shows that water use for February 2010 was down by about 2.9 million HCF since February of 2009.
However, LADWP netted nearly $3.3 million more in revenue in the first quarter of 2010 than during the same period the previous year. Overall, LADWP revenue is up about 7 percent.
Rate of consumption for Feb 09 and Feb 10
Feb 09
Potable: 17,564,974 HCF
Recycled: 402,414 HCF
Total: 17,967,388 HCF
Feb 10
Potable: 14,989,285 HCF
Recycled: 117,821 HCF
Total: 15,107,106 HCF
[HCF= hundred cubic feet = 748 gallons]
Revenue for potable and recycled water for Feb 09 and Feb 10?
Feb 09
Potable: $48,800,664
Recyled: $423,169
Total: $49,223,833
Feb 10
Potable: $52,360,636
Recyled: $141,637
Total: $52,502,273
04/13/10: LA Water Use Reaches 32-Year Low In February
In 1979 there were about 2.8 million people living in the City of Los Angeles. Evidently, Agelinos of that era used the same amount of water as the modern population (of nearly 4 million people) under the current Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) water conservation guidelines.
Or at least that's the latest news from the LADWP about water use for the month of February. In the ninth month of mandatory water conservation in the City of Los Angeles, LADWP customers reached 1979 water use levels, making February 2010 the lowest recorded February water use in 32 years. The city's mandatory water conservation program went into effect on June 1, 2009 in an attempt to counteract the the affects of three years of drought statewide. The program restricts sprinkler watering to Mondays and Thursdays only and includes other provisions to save water such as prohibiting watering between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, prohibiting hosing down driveways and sidewalks and water runoff, requiring all leaks be fixed and only using hoses fitted with shut-off nozzles. Under mandatory water conservation, shortage year water rates were also instituted. Shortage year rates allowed for the creation of a modified pricing schedule meant to reduce the amount of water customers can use at the lowest price. As a result, customers who use more water than they are allotted at the lowest price pay a higher rate for each 748 gallons they use.
Customer Sector Water Savings vs. Base Year
Single-Family Residential -29.2% Multi-Family Residential -11.9% Commercial -16.7% Industrial -14.8% Governmental -19.1%
Evidently, this was incentive enough as LADWP customers scaled back their water use by some 20 percent compared to the same period in 2007.
Over all, Angelenos reduced their water use by nearly 30 billion gallons over the past nine months – enough to serve 231,000 households for a year - and have saved nearly 50 billion gallons of water since July 2007, enough to serve an additional 150,000 households for a year.
The city's reduced water consumption also lowered the city's water purchases from the Metropolitan Water District by 16 percent. “In a time when water resources are scarce throughout the state, Los Angeles is taking the lead and setting an example on how to conserve water and maintain a sustainable water supply,” said James McDaniel, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager – Water System. “The more we can rely on our City’s available water resources, the better prepared we are to get through this water crisis as a state.”
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP services about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles.
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