SSJID might raise water rates for higher-volume users

Water rates could rise for higher-volume users in the South San Joaquin Irrigation District to encourage conservation.

Its board will hold a hearing Tuesday morning on a proposal to increase rates for farmers using more than 48 vertical inches in a growing season. That was 32 percent of the total customers in 2014. Deliveries are capped at 36 inches this year because of drought.

SSJID charges $24 per acre, plus $3 for each 12 inches of water applied to that land. Under the proposal, users would pay $10 for each 12 inches in excess of 48 inches.

“The purpose is not to increase revenues, although a small increase is a likely byproduct,” said a memo to the board from Bere Lindley, assistant general manager. “The purpose is to encourage prudent use by irrigators of SSJID water resources.”

Under state law, the proposal could not go through if a majority of land owners file protests at or before the hearing. The district serves about 55,000 acres around Escalon, Ripon and Manteca with water from the Stanislaus River.

The rate change would increase irrigation income by an estimated $180,000 a year, or about 9 percent, based on 2014 deliveries.

This will be the first board meeting for General Manager Peter Rietkerk, who had that role at the Patterson Irrigation District for the past five years. Jeff Shields is retiring from the top post at SSJID but will remain through Oct. 16 to help with the transition.

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 1:42 PM with the headline "SSJID might raise water rates for higher-volume users."