Press
Release		Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
31315 Chaney St
Lake Elsinore, CA 92531

5/23/2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE #5874
Subject :

EVMWD Approves Budget
District encourages conservation during Drought
Contact :Greg Morrison, Director of Legislative and Community Affairs, Public Affairs    951 674-3146, ext. 8229
    gmorrison@evmwd.net
EVMWD APPROVES BUDGET

District encourages conservation during Drought

LAKE ELSINORE, CA, May 22, 2008 - "Use water wisely – It’s a way of life" is the overriding theme for the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District’s budget this year.  Even with slowing growth and serious drought conditions, the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors unanimously approved its budget with only modest rate increases.  The $125 million budget includes the second phase of a planned rate increase that was approved last year.

Starting in July 2008, the average customer will see a 6.9% total increase on their water bill or approximately $3.30 per month for the average customer. Since customers’ rates vary by location and elevation, the rate increase will differ based on each customer’s location and water use.

"None of us want to increase rates, but this increase is exactly what we had anticipated last year when we adopted our two year budget," said EVMWD Board President Harvey Ryan. "We want to help customers limit the impact of this increase by taking advantage of the conservation rebates and programs we are offering. By saving water, they will save money."

On the bright side, EVMWD board members were able to reduce the monthly sewer rate increase this year by 50 percent for its customers.  "This will be a welcome relief to our customers," said Greg Morrison, EVMWD Director of Legislative and Community Affairs.

Morrison emphasized that the number one way customers can keep their bills down is by conserving water, and that the District is offering customers a package of programs and rebates free of charge.

"People sometimes think conserving water is too much work, or it takes too much time," said Morrison. "But the truth is, it’s as simple as changing your showerheads, replacing your toilets, or only watering your lawn five days a week during the summer instead of seven."

EVMWD actively encourages water conservation by offering giveaways and several rebate programs. The District offers five residential rebates ranging from $50 to $165 for the purchase of water conserving products such as high-efficiency toilets, high-efficiency washing machines and weather-based irrigation controllers.

 EVMWD also provides its commercial and industrial customers over 12 rebate opportunities ranging from $30 to $3,120. In addition, EVMWD will conduct water conservation audits to those with significant water use challenges and offers two landscape seminars a year to teach customers how to reduce outdoor water use.

The budget approved Thursday night includes $50 million in Capital Improvement expenditures to pay for construction of new water delivery, water quality and wastewater projects, as well as provide for water and wastewater upgrades to the District’s existing systems.  Some of these projects include:

·        Lakeshore Sewer - $14.4 million – This project will prevent sewer spills into the San Jacinto River.  It will serve as a parallel relief sewer collection system that will alleviate capacity issues with the existing system. The seven mile long sewer, with diameters ranging from 33-inches to 54-inches, will be constructed in three phases consisting of the Malaga Reach, North Reach and South Reach. The North Reach consists of the construction of approximately 3.5 miles of 54-inch diameter sewer in Lakeshore Drive (old Railroad Right-of-Way), Spring Street, and Minthorn Street.

·        Wildomar Recycled Water Project Phase I and IA  - $18.9 million – This project is intended to ultimately deliver 2,429 acre-feet per year of recycled water to 34 users in Wildomar.  These customers include schools, homeowners’ associations, parks, a cemetery, nurseries, and churches.  This will require the construction of major pipelines, pump stations, and reservoirs to distribute the recycled water.  EVMWD is also pursuing approximately $4.8 million in federal funding for this project to help offset the cost to the district and its customers.

"The District can’t add or replace infrastructure overnight, we have to plan for these improvements," said District Spokesperson Greg Morrison.  "This capital improvement budget will assist the District in keeping pace with growth and ensure a safe and reliable water and wastewater service for our customers well into the future."

EVMWD’s rates are also tiered to encourage water conservation. If customers use less water they are charged a lower rate. Customers who use over 74,800 gallons or 100 cubic feet of water (ccf) are charged the highest rate for their water. Customers interested in finding out more about our conservation programs and rebates are invited to log onto the website at www.evmwd.com/rebates or call Rob Whipple at 674-3146 ext. 8247.

EVMWD provides service to over 38,000 water, wastewater and agricultural customers in a 96-square mile service area in Western Riverside County with an estimated 133,000 population. The District is a sub-agency of the Western Municipal Water District and a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  You can visit the EVMWD website at www.evmwd.com.

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