NCSD Board OK’s Supplemental Water Rate Hike

The Board of Directors for the Nipomo Community Services District has approved a new charge for customers to pay for supplemental water delivery from Santa Maria the District says is critically important to balance current and future water needs on the Nipomo Mesa.

A supplemental water pipeline nearing completion is expected to deliver some 645 acre-feet, or more than 200 million gallons, to the Nipomo Mesa Groundwater Basin from Santa Maria every year.

The supplemental water charge is on top of ongoing water rate hikes that were already approved by the NCSD Board.

Here is the complete text of the press release issued by the NCSD Friday afternoon:

“On Friday, November 21, 2014 the Nipomo Community Services District Board of Directors held a hearing and adopted new water rates to pay for supplemental water.

After twenty years of study and evaluation, the District has succeeded in obtaining a much needed supplemental water source and is constructing essential, but costly, pipeline facilities to bring that water to the community.

Delivery of the supplemental water is scheduled to begin in summer 2015.

The Nipomo Mesa Groundwater Basin is currently the only source of water for the area. It is used by many private well owners and several water companies, and as a result, pumping across the Basin is more than double the sustainable supply.

The District’s new supplemental water supply is a first step towards balancing water supply and demand and will help provide reliable water for decades to come.

A portion of this new supply will be purchased by neighboring agencies to help balance their water demand as well.

When vitally needed supplemental water deliveries begin next summer, the District will need to add a supplemental water charge to customers’ bills to pay for the new, supplemental supply.

A typical residential District customer will pay approximately $30 more on their two-month bill ($15 monthly) for the enhanced water security once the new water is flowing and the new charges are applied.

For more information, please contact the Nipomo Community Services District at 929-1133, info@ncsd.ca.gov or visit www.ncsd.ca.gov.”