Osprey
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Water bills in Baja Sur
Frog Dinner
Episode Two
Almost Free Water
It has been said that when Columbus’ tall ships came near the shores of Hispañola the natives could not see them. It took a canny shaman to first
identify what the hulks were, then explain the concept to those who had eyes but could not see, those who lacked the data necessary for cognition.
I have the same problem the Amerindians had when it comes to complex concepts. Parsecs and lightyears are lost on me. My mind cannot handle things
like photons, quarks and temperatures of 200,000 degrees Celsius found in white dwarf stars. Only more manageable forms of data sneak under my radar
(lightseconds, 1000 degress C. could probably get in). So please forgive when I bend the rules, mix quantities to explain water use, price and
capacity.
Until last month, January, 2007 an average household here was billed for 30 to 70 cubic meters of water per month. (enough to fill a swimming pool 12
X 14 X 5 feet)
• The price has been incredibly low - .08 or .09 U.S.D. per hundred gallons of water
• Most bills indicated about 40 cubic meters of water and fell below the minimum billing figure of $6.00 U.S.D. per month
• Most bills indicated daily household consumption of about 350 gallons per day (approx. 10,000 gallons per month)
Where We Stand
A. My house: 350 to 400 gals per day @ about $6.00 per month
B. Mexico city uses 92 gals per day
C. U.S. cities use 65 to 300 gals per day
D. Scottsdale (a desert town) uses 184 gals per day
What Has Changed
A. Effective Jan. l, 2007 a new maximum limit to receive the lowest rate was set at 18 cubic meters @ .24 U.S.D. per meter (264 gallons)
B. The next level jumps to $l.10 U.S.D. per meter (264)
One serious over-riding problems remains
• No water lines or meters have air relief valves
• Each time the system goes down (problems with tanks, electricity, pumps, lines, breaks, storms, etc – probably close to 100 times per year) air
fills the lines, spins the meters at greater speeds than water, giving an increased and inaccurate reading)
• Until the water bosses install such meters they can not effectively handle pricing, planning and conservation.
SUMMARY
Until now we have not received anywhere near what they indicate we have used.
Whatever it was, it was almost free.
Now they will try to make up for all those lost dollars, lost opportunities.
Stay tuned for Episode Three
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
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Thanks for the explanation, O
Our bill shot way up...like through the roof
I plan to complain. Will let you know what they say....
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cabobaja
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My water bill still the same. Average use, 20-24M3 per month. Average bill, 70-77 pesos per month.
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Acuity
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I'm sorry, but when people complain about their water bills "leaping" up to huge amounts that are still way below what you would pay in Canada (which
has no shortage), I don't get it. I understand that when there are anomalies (such as bills of $800 per month as has happened to a few gringos and
Mexicans here in Todos Santos), there is an issue - but is $20 a month (what we pay here - much more than your "usual" 70 pesos) awful?
[Edited on 2-21-2007 by Acuity]
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bajajudy
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I would say from 90 pesos to 963 pesos is a leap. And I dont live in Canada
And no it is still not a fortune but if this trend continues, some of us will not be able to afford to live here in a few years.
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
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Osprey
"• No water lines or meters have air relief valves
• Each time the system goes down (problems with tanks, electricity, pumps, lines, breaks, storms, etc – probably close to 100 times per year) air
fills the lines, spins the meters at greater speeds than water, giving an increased and inaccurate reading)"
Now I understand why the City Fathers in San Diego are replacing all meters sin relief valves in the whole system and why my rates are going up all
over again to fix the system. Guess the increased cost will not go to pipe repairs but to removing any and all relief valves.
I'm sure that this will cover what they steal at least for a few months.
Thank you for solving my problem................sorry I can't solve yours..............OH! San Diego can now brag about having the highest water and
sewer rates in the United States...........Yep! it is still America's finest!
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
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Location: La Paz
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I try very hard to conserve water; my monthly bill here in La Paz hasn't ever gone over $70 pesos....typically under $60....only higher when the kid
who does yard work forgets to turn off a hose!! I really feel sorry for the poor Mexican people for whom this increase truly represents a financial
hardship. But it might get some of them to consider the benefits of water conservation!
IMHO, it is to the benefit of the water company NOT to install air relief valves. They get higher revenue without the irksome necessity of having to
spend more to upgrade the system equipment; which would only reduce their (the Feds) revenue in the long run!!
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Osprey
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Larry, from my couch on the patio I can hear the air rushing out of my garden water hose. I need only to get up. walk to the meter and watch it spin
like a Margarita blender at sundown -- it often takes almost an hour for the lines to clear, the water to come rolling thru as before. Once, in an
impish mood, when I went up to pay my bill I told them I had all the air I needed, I said "please, now send only water." Some of my gringo neighbors
have asked if the homeowner could put in a valve (called a scavenger) on the city side of the meter and the water company said "no".
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
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Osprey
So make the most of it and start mixing Margaritas for the neighbors and charge to make up for the increase in water bill.
Basja is so simple!
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Right On Bernie -----
Why does being practical seem so impractical to some folks?
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lizard lips
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Maybe thats why they turn the water off so often here in Ensenada to allow the air to spin the meter. Every time I call to find out why they shut the
water off I am told they are working in the area and needed to shut down the system. I know better now but it wont do much good fighting the water
company!
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vandenberg
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Here in Loreto, a lot of natives put acid on the reading glass of their meter. That clouds the glass and makes the meter unreadable. According to them
,they then end up paying the flat rate, which beats the other monthly charge. This is heresay, but have no reason to disbelieve it. Kind of makes
sense  
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