Thursday, September 28, 2006

New water rates for Denver Water customers Denver Water approved new water rates yesterday, according to the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "More than half of Denver households are expected to see cheaper water bills next year if they continue to conserve water, while heavy users will pay more, according to a new rate structure approved Wednesday by the Denver Water Board. Households in the city that use the average 120,000 gallons of water each year should save about $10 next year, Denver Water said... "Here is what the rates look like: Currently, a family living in the city of Denver that uses 350,000 gallons of water annually - an unusually large amount - would be billed $835.23. Under the new rate, the family would pay $1,165.92. Today, bills are based on water consumption and the size of the house's water meter. The new plan will include a lower meter price and a higher water consumption rate, which escalates with increased use, McGuire-Collier said. Under the new rate, a family that uses 107,000 gallons of water would be charged $240.56. Today, that family would have a bill of $256.22." Category: Colorado Water 6:24:41 AM     Water for Black Canyon U.S. Senator Wayne Allard is calling on recently appointed Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to help resolve the water issues in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, according to the Montrose Daily Press. From the aritlcle, "Two weeks ago, U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer voided a settlement agreement in the case between the state of Colorado and the federal government. The judge remanded the case back to the U.S. Park Service, which is a division of the Interior Department. Allard sought the secretary's help to start negotiations for a settlement. 'While a legislative solution may be warranted at some point, I still believe an out-of-court agreement negotiated between the experts at the Department of the Interior and the state of Colorado is the proper solution,' Allard wrote in the letter. 'An outright rejection of the agreement, or court quantification of federal water rights, could lead to the largest water grab in my state's - and possibly the nation's - history.' "Drew Peternell, an attorney for Trout Unlimited who represented the environmental groups in the case, said the Park Service must decide how to proceed. He said the final water right does not have to be the 2001 filing, but he wanted a right that will protect the Black Canyon." More Coyote Gulch coverage here. Category: Colorado Water 5:59:58 AM

© Copyright 2006 John Orr. Last update: 12/29/06; 12:15:29 PM.