http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

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Mandated water conservation continued to cut into water suppliers’ revenue, forcing them to add drought surcharges, tap monetary reserves and postpone maintenance projects. The general manager of Riverside Public Utilities said that water restrictions will cost about $9 million in 2015. More fixed charges, such as a drought surcharge ranging from $0.71 to $1.98, depending on water use and also a penalty for exceeding water allotments, were being added to customers’ bills to meet the utility’s costs. In Hemet, water rates rose 19 percent on Oct. 1 and will be followed by additional rate increases of 19 percent in March 2016, 4 percent in January 2017 and 3 percent increases each January through 2020. Eastern Municipal Water District in Perris loses about $1 million monthly due to water conservation, said the district spokesman. Mandated water conservation for Eastern, the largest water supplier in Riverside County, is 28 percent. The district increased water rates by 3.8 percent in January 2015 and added two fixed charges for water and sewer use. Riverside Press-Enterprise (Calif.), Nov. 24, 2015