Underestimation of Net Zero Water Fees Ventura

By Dan Cormode

1. A comparison of costs associated with the development of new water sources was generated and results of the comparison revealed there was an inconsistency in the estimated costs between different documents and the value of the Net Zero fee is underestimated.  See Table 1.

1. Estimated costs contained in the Capital Improvement Plans do not reflect the total cost of a project as they do not include financing costs.
2. The original Net Zero cost estimate appears to be incomplete as it does not include all of the costs related to project as identified in the 2016-2022 CIP or proposed 2018-2024 CIP.
3. The Total Cost of the projects based on Sum of 2016-2022 CIP Project descriptions is estimated to be $328,952,950 which is 32% greater than total project costs of $248,664,974 identified in the Water Commission Net Zero Presentation of December 22, 2015.
4. The Total Cost of the projects based on Sum of 2018-2024 CIP Project descriptions is estimated to be $420,840,411 which is 46% greater than total project costs of $248,664,974 identified in the Water Commission Net Zero Presentation of December 22, 2015.
5. Foster Park Wellfield Yield amount is for protection of water rights and since water rights to not yield wet water, the Ventura River/Foster Park Wellfield was reduced to zero.

2. 
   

   Table 2 – Water Consumption Planning Factors
   	Raw Consumption Factor (CY 2012)	Adjustment for Water Loss (+6.5%)	Adjustment for Planning Purposes (+20%)	Adjustment for Planning Purposes (+20%)	Water consumption (CY2012)
   Residential (0-8 du/ac)	292 gpd/du	311 gpd/du	370 gpd/du	0.414 afy/du	7,855
   Residential (9-20 du/ac)	189 gpd/du	201 gpd/du	250 gpd/du	0.280 afy/du	4,178
   Residential (21+ du/ac)	189 du/ac	201 gpd/du	250 gpd/du	0.280 afy/du
   Commercial/ Retail/ Industrial / Hotel/ Public/ Institutional	206 gpd/ksf	220 gpd/ksf	265 gpd/ksf	0.276 afy/ksf	4,260
   Hospital/ Assisted Living	424 gpd/bed	452 gpd/bed	545 gpd/bed	0.610 afy/du	235
   Parks/ Landscape/ Irrigation	1,566 gpd/ac	2,000 gpd/ac	1,668 gpd/ac	1.868 afy/ac	1,475
   				Total	18,003

   Total Water Consumption and Planning Factors were developed from the 2013 Comprehensive Water Resources Report and are shown in Table 2.

3. It was determined that there was a total of 43,000 residential dwelling units using data extracted from Table 2-3 of the 2013 Comprehensive Water Resources Report (CWRR) and is shown in Table 3.

4. An analysis was conducted in order to compare Net Zero fees collected annually using the original Net Zero fee of $26,457 per acre-foot and the real estimated value of $61,009.06 per acre-foot.  The analysis revealed that for the years 2018-2034 the total fees collected would be $66,025,044 under the $26,457 per acre-foot fee and $151,735,633 with the water valued at $61,009.06 per acre-foot.  See Table 4.

5. It is requested that the above factors be considered as part of the current cost of water and water rate discussions.

Daniel Cormode is a Ventura resident and the Chairman of the Planning & Development Committee for The East Ventura Community Council. He  has dedicated his life to researching Ventura water issues.

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