US EditionWater Price Divide: Big City Agencies Shell Out Thousands, Ag Districts Pay Zero
The UCLA/NRDC report reveals California cities pay about 20 times more for imported water than farms, with some urban agencies paying over $2,500 per acre-foot due to delivery costs.
- Published today, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and NRDC found California cities pay about 20 times more for imported water, roughly $722 versus $36 per acre-foot.
- Because moving water costs escalate with distance and pumps, much variation comes from federally managed rivers and reservoirs costing far less than state-managed distribution systems, with highest prices from San Francisco to San Diego coastal region.
- For example, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California pays just 25 cents per acre-foot for around 850,000 acre-feet, while cities received less than 40,000 acre-feet for $0 and five major agricultural suppliers paid nothing for nearly 4 million acre-feet.
- The study warns that inconsistent prices hide scarcity and undermine conservation as California and six other Colorado River basin states negotiate under federal ultimatums.
- Noah Garrison proposed adding a $50 per acre-foot surcharge on cheap federal supplies to fund infrastructure repairs and conservation, while agricultural leaders warned it conflicts with contracts and could harm growers; Jeffrey Mount praised the research, and Allison Febbo noted water's 'value' amid crisis conditions.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Associated Press News
California cities pay a lot for water; some agricultural districts get it for free
California cities pay far more for water on average than districts that supply farms — with some urban water agencies shelling out more than $2,500 per acre-foot of surface water, and some irrigation districts paying nothing, according to new research.
Telemundo Fresno
California cities pay much more for water, on average, than the districts that supply farms. Some urban water agencies spend more than $2,500 per acre of surface water, while some irrigation districts pay nothing, according to a new study. A report published Thursday by UCLA researchers from the Institute of Environment and Sustainability and advocates of the Natural Resources Defense Council sheds light on the huge disparities in water prices i…
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