Hiden Cost of Desalination

I took a look at our water bill today. It was a modest $33 for two months of water not counting the meter hook-up. I wanted to compare this to what it might be if MMWD builds a desalination plant. Using (in millions over 30 years) $100 for construction, $200 for financing, and $100 for operational expenses the total cost of the proposed desalination plant will be $400 million. MMWD now has 61,000 connections and sends a bill out every two months. The total yearly cost of the proposed desalination plant per connection is $218, or $36 per bill.

However Marin votes this November 2 our bills will rise. Costs go up. The current MMWD board has demonstrated a 15% conservation rate increased our bill 35%, and still faces a $2 million deficit. Much has been made of the restrictive language of Measure T. I think restrictive is really code for clarity and precision. The people have spoken when they signed the initiative to put Measure T on the ballot. Stop wasting our ratepayer dollars on a controversial plant that will double our water bills.