Bacon's Rebellion

James A. Bacon

I’ve finally discovered the key to generating reader feedback – write about the weather! Everybody’s got something to say, especially

when the subject revolves around the drought. (See “Dearth of Water – or Ideas?” Sept. 3.)

My argument, in a nutshell: Instead of imposing arbitrary command-and-control measures to ration water supplies, localities should create “drought rate” plans that hike fees for wasteful and high-volume consumers of water. Before I go into the criticisms, let me note for the record that a few readers did agree with me.

Finally, someone has stated the obvious. Water is no different than gas, electricity or Bryers Ice-cream (not, mind you, that I'm calling for an increase in pricing for Breyers Ice-cream -- that precious commodity should be subsidized by the government so that I might get some of my taxes back, but that's another story/addiction).

Meade A. Spotts
Spotts Fain Chappell & Anderson, P.C.
Richmond
mspotts@spottsfain.com

Your article on pricing water is “right on target.” I agree that the current program is full of flaws and your approach is the best answer. Hopefully, our public policy leaders can get a market-driven program in place, if not this time, maybe the next time we face this problem.

William Stafford

Stafford and Associates

Richmond

wmstafford@attbi.com

The Fairfax County Water Authority and the City of Falls Church already have a two-tier system in place in the summer with a higher amount charged to the customer for the excess amount of water used as compared to the winter quarter. This captures those customers who do a lot of watering, have swimming pools, etc.

The Washington metro utilities, which draw on the Potomac, invested millions in building reservoirs up river just in case of extended dry periods. You will note that Northern Virginia is exempt from the governor's order. However, we are still encouraging residents to be prudent in the use of water, and we have put out the usual list of conservation tips.

Anthony H. Griffin

County Executive

Fairfax County

tony.griffin@fairfaxcounty.gov

Then, there were those who agreed with some of what I said but thought I overlooked key points:

There is certainly nothing wrong with allowing some free-market concepts, like raising the price of a scarce commodity, help conserve the drought-reduced water supply. However, your column largely misses the point that our governor (who is doing a lot right) is way off the mark on this one.

Virginia's water supplies need to be managed locally, not in Richmond. Yes, some Virginia communities would probably help themselves to raise the price, a power they presumably already have. But none of them need the governor edicting a near statewide solution for problem that is clearly better addressed locally.

Martin Lightsey

Specialty Blades Inc.

Staunton

martin@specialtyblades.com

And this from a correspondent who preferred not to identify himself for political reasons:

Your reasoning is sound, to a point. James City County is the largest purveyor of ground water in the state. We have struggled for years with how to control the use of our water in the summer months when almost one quarter of it is used to keep lawns green.

We in James City County have experienced the result of simply raising the rates - an increasing number of homeowners have sunk irrigation wells. Up to the issuance of Executive Order 33, no locality or state agency has had the ability to control the flow of water from private irrigation wells: localities because of the Dillon Rule, and the state because it has opted not to do so.

In these times of severe drought, the unfettered withdrawal of water from private wells is an issue that needs to be examined as well.

Other readers called me to task for overlooking practical or theoretical aspects of the problem.

“You forgot one pretty basic thing in your story,” scolded Peter Knop of Loudoun County. “There is something in economics called the law of supply and demand. If prices rise, supply tends to follow and prices fall or stabilize.”

Indeed, my argument for raising prices was based on the premise that increasing the price of water would encourage conservation, thus reducing demand. As a long-time supply sider, I must chastise myself for forgetting potential supply-side benefits. As our James City correspondent pointed out, higher prices do encourage people to dig more wells (though that creates a whole new set of problems). And as Knop suggested, higher prices will encourage entrepreneurs to come forth with other creative solutions such as, for instance, privately owned reservoirs.

Only a handful of readers were skeptical that higher prices would have an effect.

Most water bills are quarterly -- how would the consumer monitor the usage? As an example, we can monitor our cell phone usage in order to not go over our allotted minutes. How would we monitor our gallon usage? I don't know about you, but I would have a difficult time determining how many gallons of water I had used over a period of three months.

Amy Hieatt

Summit Enterprises

Occoquan

ahieatt@summitva.com

And then this from an old compadre at Virginia Business magazine:

There's a flaw in the logic for upping water prices. Most people get their water bill weeks after they use the water. It's not like filling your car up with gas where, bang!, you know immediately that prices have gone way up, you are in pain and, thus, you immediately drive less. You may water your lawn like hell in August, but you may not get the bill until late September. So there's a disconnect between the reality of the bill and the desired behavior change.

Another problem: The time to force a change in behavior is now, when the sun is hot. If you up prices, the bill won't be along any time soon and you will have depleted that much more precious water.

Peter Galuszka

Executive Editor

Virginia Business

Richmond

pgaluszka@va-business.com

Both Hiett and Galuszka raise excellent points. For higher prices to work, it helps if consumers can monitor how much water they’re using. But Hiett pointed out the solution: Utilities should enable consumers to check their water usage at any time of day or night – just like they can with their cell phone usage.

Surely, one of Virginia’s info-tech entrepreneurs could devise software that would allow utilities to make customers’ water usage accessible online. Perhaps Gov. Mark R. Warner, a venture capitalist by trade, could assemble the requisite software companies, financial backers, water authorities and other potential customers to develop precisely the kind of solution that Hiett suggests.

Until then, we’re stuck with command-and-

control rationing and morale exhortation. Let me conclude by sharing water conservation tips helpfully submitted by Longwood University :

 Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or cleaning.

 Initiate a Work Order to your residence hall's Service Desk if your sink faucet drips or if the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush position.  Did you know: If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain our septic system?

 Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

 Take shorter showers. Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. 

 Don't let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.

 Operate clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.

 When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.

 Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.

 Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Instead, defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.

 Be aware of and follow all water conservation and water shortage rules and restrictions that may be in effect in your area.

 Report all significant water losses (such as broken pipes, open hydrants or erratic sprinklers, etc.) to your residence hall's Service Desk or contact Campus Police at x-2091.

 Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Don't waste water just because someone else is footing the bill. Ultimately, your conservation effort will save you and Longwood University money.

 Try to do one thing each day that will result in a savings of water. Don't worry if the savings is minimal. Every drop counts. And every person can make a difference. So tell your roommate, friends and neighbors to "Turn it Off" and "Keep it Off".

-- Sept. 9, 2002