Check out this collectivist's dream program.....
Public comment sought on toilet retrofit program
By JONDI GUMZ
Sentinel staff writer
A calculation error means good news for builders in the Soquel Creek Water District, which is trying to reduce overpumping and prevent saltwater intrusion for its 45,000 customers.
Chris Regan, the district’s conservation coordinator, discovered a miscalculation Thursday in the formula used to figure the cost of retrofitting homes with low-flow toilets to reduce water consumption.
As a result, the cost for builders would be less than original projection of $4,600 per family home.
Regan said he would have new cost figures for directors to review July 1. Directors would have the option of amending the program they outlined Tuesday night. They planned to ask for public comment Aug. 5.
The district is the first in the county to consider a zero-impact water conservation program. Among the key elements:
Builders must replace water-wasting toilets with low-flow models at a 1.2-to-1 ratio. That figure was chosen because toilets become less efficient as they age, consuming more water. Under the new calculation, eight older toilets — not 12 — would be replaced to offset water use for each new single-family home.
Builders would pay up to $410 for a toilet and up to $50 for a showerhead and faucet, based on a national average. If costs were higher, the owner of the existing facilities would pay.
The district would charge $46 for inspections of new toilets.
To assist builders, the district would compile a list of customers interested in low-flow toilets.
"I see this as an opportunity to address the water deficit," said director Bruce Jaffe, who was elected to the board in November. "It’s expensive upfront, but it’s a fraction of the cost of a supplemental water supply."
Directors agreed overpumping was a problem but spent considerable time hashing out the details of the new program.
They opted to hire a new employee rather than contract for inspections. The cost, including salary, benefits, a truck and a computer, would be about $82,000.
They also discussed whether builders should pay for toilet retrofits or whether district ratepayers should shoulder some of the expense.
Eventually, they agreed to target new construction first and, in six months, push existing customers to install low-flow toilets.
Regan pointed out Thursday the cost would be less because of the miscalculation.
More homeowners are replacing toilets with low-flow models since the county adopted a policy requiring the change when homes are sold. The district offers a $75 rebate as an incentive.
Rebate requests jumped to 87 in one month, compared to 30 to 50 before the county policy changed.
However, not everyone is sold on the idea that new hookups should replace toilets for district customers to save water.
"You expect me to go down the street and ring door bells and ask people to put in low-flow toilets?" asked Roger Stonier, who is planning to build a home. "I don’t have the time."
Regan said he expected plumbers to see the new rules as a business opportunity and help builders find properties to retrofit. That was the case in San Luis Obispo, he said.
Contact Jondi Gumz at
jgumz@santa-cruz.com. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2003/June/21/local/stories/09local.htm Really now! I thought the professional "Left Coasters" needed toilets with both an enormous capacity as well as a low flow characteristic ~ the idea being that this would maximize the wafting of the odor of corrupt Liberalism!