Yes, San Angelo: You Saved, Now You Must Pay

When it comes to giving San Angelo citizens have done their part.  City leaders asked us to conserve water and we honored their request.

The total number of gallons pumped in 2013 was 4.3 billion gallons, down from 4.53 billion in 2012 and 5.75 billion in 2011.

Average daily usage in San Angelo last year was 13 million gallons compared to 14 million in 2012 and 17 million in 2011.

The average per person usage in 2013 was 132 gallons compared to 150 in 2012 and 177 the year before that.

City Council increased the base water fee by 29% in 2011 and raised usage by $1.31 per 1,000 gallons.  This formula provided 25% of additional funds through the base rate increase and 75% through higher usage fees. 

Instead of holding water use steady or increasing it, we heard our leaders.  Citizens cut water use by 25% from 2011 to 2013. 

Residential users accounted for 69 percent of the water consumed last year compared to 15 percent by commercial users, 7 percent by industry, 6 percent by institutional users (the City, county, school district, Angelo State University, Goodfellow Air Force Base, etc.), and 3 percent by wholesale users.

For the city to raise water funds it plans to hit nearly every user, even low volume customers.  Council discussed having the increase hit people using as little as 3,000 gallons per month.  Citizens saved.  Now they must pay.