Ramona Water Rates Are Highest in County

Ramona has the highest monthly residential water rates of 23 communities in San Diego county, according to a Watchdog article in The San Diego Union-Tribune Wednesday.

The article, by reporter Mike Lee, states that a Ramona household would pay 70 percent more for its water bill each month than a household in Lakeside. The estimate is based on usage of 10,500 gallons, which is a typical amount for a family, the article states.

Ramona residents pay $85.54 for that amount, whereas a Lakeside family would pay $50.66, according to Lee's research.

General Manager Ralph McIntosh confirmed the estimates by email Thursday for Ramona Patch. He also confirmed that the costs to pump Ramona's water up from Poway, the town's reliance on imported water, and the large district area — requiring more pipeline than other communities — are the reasons for the higher costs, as noted in the Union-Tribune article.

The lowest residential water cost out of the 23 communities researched was Yuima, a small farming community. It would charge its residents $49.93, according to Lee's research.

The second highest cost was noted to be in Rainbow, at $82.45.

Lee's article states that water managers attributed cost differences to variations in infrastructure, loan payments, tax revenues, pumping costs, the number of customers and other factors.

His research also shows that Ramona led the county in water conservation between 2009 and 2010, and that district customers cut back nearly 22 percent.