4/28/2008
DARRIN STINEMAN
Thousands of Salinans won’t be adversely affected by a water-rate increase that was proposed to the Salina City Commission on Monday.
The water hogs, however, are fair game.
In the next few weeks, the city commission will vote on whether to approve the new conservation-minded water-rate structure, which will begin charging double once a city water customer goes over their average water use, plus a 20 percent cushion.
Average water use is determined by looking at average use in January through March, when little outdoor watering is done. Those who exceed 120 percent of that number begin to get hit where it hurts most — in the pocketbook.
“I think we’re going to accomplish the goal we set out to accomplish, and that’s water conservation,” Mayor John Vanier said.
As one of about 150 people who have separate water meters for irrigating — owners of such meters will pay a double rate for every gallon of water used — Vanier stands to be one of the people most affected by the new rates.
“You’re going to charge me 200 percent?” Vanier asked.
That’s correct, said Melissa Schlickbernd of the local engineering firm Wilson & Co., which developed a water-rate study that the recommendation was based on.
“You’re using that for irrigation purposes versus someone who would be using it for household purposes,” Schlickbernd said.

Reporter Darrin Stineman can be reached at 822­-1416 or by e-mail at dstineman@salina.com.
For more on what this water rate increase will mean, read reporter Darrin Stineman's story in Tuesday's Salina Journal.