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Show The Metropolitan Water District Act ( Chapter 429, Statutes 1927) requires uniform water rates throughout the District except for equitable surcharges for special services or associated with cost differences among the sources from which water is obtained. Under this latter provision, MWD has established a uniform surcharge for state project water above the charge for Colorado River water. Current water rates of MWD for given classes of service are shown in Appendix A. Water rates for agriculture and groundwater replenishment do not cover the full share of capital and fixed operating costs incurred in providing service. Resolution 5821 states that taxpayers should make up the deficit. There has been continuing discussion in the District about the division of charges between the general taxpayer and the water user. When the Colorado River Aqueduct was initially put in operation, there were not many users to pay the costs, so a large portion ( approximately 90 percent) of the costs was paid by the taxpayers. As years passed, the proportion paid by the water users increased, and a 50- 50 split was adopted in 1960. Although the argument has been made each year since that time to increase the proportion paid by users, the split has remained at about 50- 50. One of the counter arguments made for keeping a portion of the costs on the general taxpayer is that some of the major regional systems of MWD have considerable excess capacity. This excess capacity might be considered as an investment in meeting future requirements. Hawaii The Department of Land and Natural Resources operates three irrigation systems which support farming operations at Waimanalo on Oahu, Lalamilo on Hawaii, and in West Molokai. The Board of Land and Natural Resources has the power to fix and adjust rates and charges so that the revenues derived from the irrigation systems are sufficient to cover the cost of operation, maintenance, replacement, and the capital costs. Water rate schedules for these three irrigation systems are shown in Appendix A. Indiana The Department of Natural Resources is empowered to sell water from impoundments constructed by the state or from impoundments of the Corps of Engineers in which the state has acquired water supply storage. Sales have been made from both classes of impoundments and in all cases the sales have been for municipal water supply. Revenues from these sales are deposited in a dedicated water resources development fund to be used for the acquisition of additional water supply storages. Kansas In 1974, the Kansas legislature passed legislation authorizing the purchase of water supply storage space in federal reservoirs and the sale of water from this state- managed conservation storage. Provisions in the legislation for setting charges are as follows: a. Provision for charges, which shall be set by the board, at a rate which the board shall fix of not less than five cents ( 54) per one thousand ( 1,000) gallons of water at the point of withdrawal from the reservoir and not greater than ten cents ( 104) per one thousand ( 1,000) gallons of water at the point of withdrawal from the reservoir; b. Provisions for a minimum charge to be paid in equal annual installments during the term of the contract, the sum of which shall be fifty percent ( 50%) of the total amount of water contracted for during the term of the contract multiplied by the rate fixed under paragraph ( a), and that such minimum charge is to be paid each calendar year whether or not such amounts of water is withdrawn during the calendar year ( Senate Bill No. 633). Louisiana When the diversion works for the Toledo Bend Reservoir ( constructed jointly by Texas and Louisiana) are completed, the state will sell water at a rate of 4V4 cents to 5V2 cents pt ,000 gallons. However, the money derived from this \ oject will not be used to support state- wide water development. Nevada The Southern Nevada Water System under the Division of Colorado River Resources is financed by Nevada general obligation bonds, and a federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Pumping and transmission facilities were constructed by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. The bond service and the construction costs of pumping and transmission facilities are being repaid from revenues. Water user fees are not being charged to finance further water development but cover the state's actual cost of operation and maintenance plus debt service. The Marlette Lake Water System under the Nevada Department of General Services sells water wholesale according to executed contracts with Storey County, Carson City, Lake View Subdivision, and the State of Nevada Department of Buildings and Grounds. The universal wholesale cost to these entities is $ 0.16 per 1,000 gallons, less 10 percent for evaporation, and revenues are used to pay for operation and maintenance costs. New Hampshire The Board of Water Resources operates three water projects: 1. Pittsburg Dam at the headwaters of the Connecticut River which offers conservation storage 6 |