Comments on: The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/ Reporting the Global Water Crisis Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:22:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: Funny about Money http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-21049 Funny about Money Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:52:52 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-21049 Where do you get your figures? I've lived in Phoenix for 45 years and have paid a lot of water bills. I don't know anyone who pays less than $65 a month -- and that's with "desert" landscaping. Last month my xeriscapic yard cost me $128. My bills are relatively low compared to other folks'. In April the city raised rates another 7%, on top of several recent jack-ups that amount to much, much more than that. Mr. Bennett's remark that “Water is very reasonably priced" would be true if your figures applied in real life. They don't, though. Where do you get your figures? I’ve lived in Phoenix for 45 years and have paid a lot of water bills. I don’t know anyone who pays less than $65 a month — and that’s with “desert” landscaping. Last month my xeriscapic yard cost me $128. My bills are relatively low compared to other folks’. In April the city raised rates another 7%, on top of several recent jack-ups that amount to much, much more than that.

Mr. Bennett’s remark that “Water is very reasonably priced” would be true if your figures applied in real life. They don’t, though.

]]> By: Lowell Lueck http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-18319 Lowell Lueck Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:38:12 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-18319 I would like feedback on an invention of mine capable of saving 25-30% of current water usage in the average American home. I believe it to be "the least inconvenient solution to a big environmental problem." I would like feedback on an invention of mine capable of saving 25-30% of current water usage in the average American home. I believe it to be “the least inconvenient solution to a big environmental problem.”

]]> By: Small Steps, Big Savings: What You’re Wasting Most | AssessFinancial.com http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-17183 Small Steps, Big Savings: What You’re Wasting Most | AssessFinancial.com Thu, 12 May 2011 23:41:03 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-17183 [...] claims all Americans should expect rising costs as sustainability continues to be a concern. In “The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities,” Circle of Blue suggests that people became accustomed to lower water prices and so fail to see [...] [...] claims all Americans should expect rising costs as sustainability continues to be a concern. In “The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities,” Circle of Blue suggests that people became accustomed to lower water prices and so fail to see [...]

]]> By: Dennis Bryan http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-17145 Dennis Bryan Sun, 08 May 2011 21:08:32 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-17145 Brett, I liked the article a lot. Most of the facts mentioned are problems I deal with day to day as a water conservation contractor. One item that never gets mentioned are the tiered rates for "High water users" This creates another problem. A home owner with a parcel that was landscaped years ago may not be able to afford the high rates. Consequently they are turning off their irrigation and they lose thousands of dollars invested then the surrounding neighborhood homes follow and soon you have blight. The overused phrase "Hit em in the pocketbook" doesn't work if the pocketbook is empty. Brett,
I liked the article a lot. Most of the facts mentioned are problems I deal with day to day as a water conservation contractor. One item that never gets mentioned are the tiered rates for “High water users” This creates another problem. A home owner with a parcel that was landscaped years ago may not be able to afford the high rates. Consequently they are turning off their irrigation and they lose thousands of dollars invested then the surrounding neighborhood homes follow and soon you have blight. The overused phrase “Hit em in the pocketbook” doesn’t work if the pocketbook is empty.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-16850 Cindy Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:59:46 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-16850 I am writing a story for Grand County Living magazine - an update on water issues. At the center of these issues are two water utilities on the Front Range (east side of the divide) who are planning major expansions of water diversions resulting in 20% more water taken from the headwaters of the Colorado River (which is already sucked to 40% its native flow). I have been trying to find numbers on water usage per captia and water rates for Denver compared to other cities in the US. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Cindy Kleh 970-509-0424 I am writing a story for Grand County Living magazine – an update on water issues. At the center of these issues are two water utilities on the Front Range (east side of the divide) who are planning major expansions of water diversions resulting in 20% more water taken from the headwaters of the Colorado River (which is already sucked to 40% its native flow). I have been trying to find numbers on water usage per captia and water rates for Denver compared to other cities in the US. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cindy Kleh
970-509-0424

]]> By: World Water Day: A Great Time to Quench Your Thirst for Knowledge http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-16695 World Water Day: A Great Time to Quench Your Thirst for Knowledge Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:55 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-16695 [...] in water pricing between cities (e.g. Seattle’s water costs three times as much as Las [...] [...] in water pricing between cities (e.g. Seattle’s water costs three times as much as Las [...]

]]> By: tom http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-16694 tom Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:43:54 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-16694 I agree with the earlier comment that this is not a "first of its kind survey." I also work in the water utility industry and the American Water Works Assocation (AWWA) has produced very comprehensive surveys of water rates and pricing for a number of years. Seattle has a pricing approach that is designed to encourage conservation - it is in my opinion punative to customers that do not have excessive or wasteful use. While some may argue that Seattle's rates approach the "true" marginal cost of water, the reality is customers in Seattle must balance their use against their pocketbooks. I agree with the earlier comment that this is not a “first of its kind survey.” I also work in the water utility industry and the American Water Works Assocation (AWWA) has produced very comprehensive surveys of water rates and pricing for a number of years. Seattle has a pricing approach that is designed to encourage conservation – it is in my opinion punative to customers that do not have excessive or wasteful use. While some may argue that Seattle’s rates approach the “true” marginal cost of water, the reality is customers in Seattle must balance their use against their pocketbooks.

]]> By: Wading Pool budget cuts (or sponsorships) | Best Seattle Parks http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-16536 Wading Pool budget cuts (or sponsorships) | Best Seattle Parks Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:31:53 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-16536 [...] Our city, surrounded by water, one of the rainiest places in the country, with snowcapped mountains on the horizon, Seattle, has higher water costs than the driest desert cities in America. Something is fishy here. Maybe my random web search isn’t correct, but it seems like pretty good data: Water prices for 30 select cities [...] [...] Our city, surrounded by water, one of the rainiest places in the country, with snowcapped mountains on the horizon, Seattle, has higher water costs than the driest desert cities in America. Something is fishy here. Maybe my random web search isn’t correct, but it seems like pretty good data: Water prices for 30 select cities [...]

]]> By: The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities « Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-16048 The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities « Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:30:23 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-16048 [...] The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities A first of its kind survey of residential water use and prices in 30 metropolitan regions in the Uni... [...] [...] The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities A first of its kind survey of residential water use and prices in 30 metropolitan regions in the Uni… [...]

]]> By: Day One | One Dollar Poverty Project http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-15689 Day One | One Dollar Poverty Project Sun, 02 Jan 2011 01:35:14 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=14632#comment-15689 [...] http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usag.... [...] [...] http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usag…. [...]

]]>