Update: We apologize, earlier versions of this story said “year” in place of “month” in some instances. Additionally, we would have linked the current rate schedule, however it is not available online.
Eastsound business owners are frustrated about an increase in Eastsound Water User Association’s rates that went into effect earlier this year.
“I got sick to my stomach,” said Driftwood Flowers and Nursery owner Lorna Vester. “I do everything myself. There’s nothing more I can do.”
Business owners like Vester will likely see a large increase in their water bills this summer when usage goes up. A group of business owners hired an attorney to aid them in combatting the rate increase they view as unfair. The new rating scale which was introduced on February 26 of this year, will penalize EWUA members who exceed the base rate of 5,000 gallons a month, or one Equivalent Residential Unit. Every single-family household on the in Eastound has at least one ERU. According to the EWUA bylines, businesses receive 1.75 ERU per tax parcel.
The average American household uses 400 gallons worth of water a day, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The base rate set by EWUA allows members to use 166.67 gallons of water per day per ERU.
For example, if a member has one ERU and exceeds the base 5,000 gallons a month, they will pay $20 per ERU per 1,000 gallons for the additional 5,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons. Should a member use more than 10,000 gallons of water in a month, they will have to pay the base of $47 per month per ERU, $100 per ERU for the first 10,000, and $40 per ERU per 1,000 gallons thereafter up to 20,000 gallons total. Finally, if a member uses more than 20,000 gallons a month, they will be charged $60 per ERU every 1,000 gallons on.
EWUA suggests that any members who regularly exceed one ERU, or 5,000 gallons a month, consider investing in more ERUs. An additional ERU would require a new membership fee of $12,700 dollars.
“The program goal is to promote equality amongst all members,” said Paul Kamin, EWUA general manager. “Our research documented an imbalance in the water system.”
According to Kamin, an EWUA found that the top 10 percent of commercial members use 50 percent of the total water usage, yet they only own 19 percent of the ERUs.
“Other users in the system are subsidizing the big users,” Kamin said. He acknowledges that a 40 to 50 percent increase in water rates is a really big deal, and encourages commercial members who are experiencing these increases to purchase more residential units to compensate. The sale of ERUs pays for capital infrastructure.
“Last summer’s increased use of a handful of accounts created an additional demand for ERUs,” said Kamin. “The new rate structure is to recuperate those costs. You use it, you pay to use it.”
EWUA will hold a board meeting at the Eastsound Fire Station on Tuesday, May 17 at 5 p.m. The location was moved to the fire station to accommodate the expected increase in attendance for public comment about the rate changes.
