Rifle_WCPlan2008

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Contract/PO #: OE PDA 08-17
• Applicant: City of Rifle
• Project Name: City of Rifle Water Conservation Plan
• Title: City of Rifle Water Conservation Plan Final Report - July 2008
• Date: 7/1/2008
• County: Garfield
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

City of Rifle Water Conservation Plan
Final Report -July 2008
exceeded 900 mg/L at times. High salinity can contribute to degraded water taste,
which may reduce public confidence in the City's water utility.
Water efficiency, especially measures and programs that reduce peak day demands, can
help defer and/or reduce the magnitude and cost of capital improvements, and to some
extent, ease the pressures associated with the above-noted system limitations.
Water Rates, Fees, and Revenue
Section 13, Article I, Division 3 along with Appendix A of the City of Rifle Municipal
Code (www.colocode.com/rifle) sets forth charges for potable water service in Rifle.
Historically, these charges have been revised periodically, as determined to be necessary,
but not on a defined regular schedule. Table 1-1 summarizes key water rates for 2007.
Rates currently are set to increase along with the Consumer Price Index, plus 1.5% (about
4% per year, total) on January 1st of each year through 2009. Table 1-1 shows that the
City has a flat inclining block rate structure, which would not be expected to promote
water conservation. The City's rates do, however, consider customer location, elevation,
ability to pay, service reliability needs, and point of service.
Table 1-1:2007 Monthl Water Rates
T e Descri tion/Usa a Block Amount
Basic Rate Structure
All user classes inside City limits
-Flat fee 1 through 4,000 gallons $14.55 per EQR
-Variable -1st tier 4,001 through 30,000 gallons $ 2.81 per 1,000 gallons used
-Variable - 2~~a tier over 30,000 gallons $ 3.33 per 1,000 gallons used
Other Rates
Users outside City limits multiplier on total bill 200%
In-City seniors/disabled users multiplier on total bill 80%
Interruptible service rate Single tier/rate -irrigation only $ 2.53 per 1,000 gallons used
Bulk water sales (hydrant meter) Multiplier on app. in-City rate 400%
(+$100 acct. activation fee and
$25 monthly meter rental fee)
Bulk water sales (vend. machine) Single tier/rate $ 8.69 per 1,000 gallons used
Pressure surcharge (s. of river) Single tier/rate $ 0.45 per 1,000 gallons used
Meter/account activation fee One-time fee $ 25.00
In addition, the City has charges associated with water meter installation, inspections, late
payment, and duplicate bill requests. The City also has a contract to supply potable water
to its single biggest user (when it runs), a Tri-State Generation & Transmission
Association natural gas-fired cogeneration power plant referred to as the "CoGen Plant."
The pricing terms of this contract are:
~ Metered use is billed per the current in-City rates (see Table 1-1)
~ A set annual water rights dedication fee of $7,164 (in 2007) set to escalate 5% per
year is assessed.
• A water rights delivery fee is assessed at about $63.19 per ac-ft delivered and also
escalates at 5% per year. A minimum of 275 ac-ft is paid for each year.
The City's base tap fee in 2007 was $4,725 per EQR and is set to increase 5% annually
on January 1st of each year through 2011. An additional fee of $1,860 per EQR for taps
served by the City's Northeast Tank is imposed on top of the base tap fee.
SGM # 99055A-388 10 Existing Water System Profile