Drought gets expensive: Water rates likely to rise 15 to 20 percent (March 27, 2015)

Facing $1.3 million in drought-related expenses for 2015-2016, the Carpinteria Valley Water District is considering a rate hike that would raise customer bills by 15 to 20 percent. The chance of any drought-denting rainfall is nearly nil at this point in the season; thus the water district’s $7.4 million draft budget includes water purchases and conservation efforts that could be necessary if Lake Cachuma continues its shift from Carpinteria’s main water source to no water source at all.

Source: Coastal View