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Semitropic customers
enjoy some of the lowest irrigation water rates in Kern County. The
board of directors establishes water rates each November through an
open process. Water rates are determined by a number of factors,
including costs for providing services, infrastructure maintenance and
improvements, and energy. This year there is a 50% allocation of contract water.
2008 Rates
| Contract
water |
$53.97
per acre-foot |
Non-contract
water
(November 1 to May 1) |
$54
per acre-foot |
Non-contract
water
(Whole year.) |
$54
per acre-foot |
| Assessment
on Kern County tax bill |
$32.50
per acre
$9.29 per acre-foot |
| Average
energy costs |
$63.26
per acre-foot |
Contract water:
Contract
water is an amount of State Project Water (typically three to three and
a half acre-feet) that has been contracted by a landowner and must be
applied to a specific parcel of land. The amount available in any year
depends on the amount allotted by the California Department of Water
Resources. Contract water is nontransferable — it must be
applied to the specific parcel of land identified in the contract,
regardless of ownership.
Non-contract water:
Unlike
contract water, non-contract water is available only in average or wet
years (years when there is abundant rainfall). Because the availability
of non-contract water is dependent upon the amount of surplus water
available, deliveries may be terminated at any time if surplus supplies
diminish.
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| One acre-foot is equal to 12 inches of rain on
one acre of land, or 325,851 gallons of water – enough water
to supply two families of four for an entire year. |
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