[Vision2020] Moscow and Water
John Danahy
jdanahy@turbonet.com
Thu, 26 Jun 2003 11:22:49 -0700
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On Monday evening, the Moscow City Council decided that the way to solve
our water crisis was to have a voluntary ban on outdoor watering between
9am and 6pm. Today, three days later, the Moscow School District was
watering the grass at Russell School at 10am, using a leaky hose and
standard air delivered sprinklers. At 11 am I noticed someone watering
plants at the 1912 Building by hand using a hose. The action of the
council was clearly designed to be feel good propaganda and not a
meaningful response.
I examined my water bill payments for all of 2002. My payments did not
significantly change from month to month except for July and August.
However, I do not know if the change was due to increased use or the
surcharge the city puts on summer use. I suspect some increase in usage
but mostly the increase is the result of the surcharge..
I realize that the city claim of doubled pumping of water is probably
true. But, when the city sends out a survey that infers private
homeowners are solely responsible for excessive water use, and suggests
these home owners should voluntarily cut back, it is making an
unsupported assumption. I do not believe that homeowners are
responsible for the doubling of water use in the summer. Certainly,
some use much more, but enough to double the pumping?? Hardly!
What is the city's metered water use month by month?? How about the
county?? School district?? Other civic and governmental
organizations?? How much does the city pay for water?? How about our
malls? The fountain in downtown and at the entrance to UI?
The council should take this situation seriously. Last years ban was
largely ignored by the individual home owner. The council claim that
the water department was "broke", followed by drastic increases in fees,
followed by the senior administrative staff getting pay increases on par
with Spokane and Twin Falls, speaks to a city council with a severe lack
of credibility.
Let's start with a complete examination of all water use in Moscow and
what could be done differently. Let's examine recycling water where we
can, being efficient with water use, not just at home but in all aspects
of the community. Let's see the city step up to its responsibilities.
Yes, the aquifer is a gun pointed at the head of this community, but it
is the city council's finger on the trigger!
At the rate it is falling, and considering water as a limiting factor,
can this community continue to support a 13,000 student university, much
less the projected increase to 15,000?
John
jdanahy@turbonet.com
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>On Monday evening, the Moscow City Council decided =
that the
way to solve our water crisis was to have a voluntary ban on outdoor =
watering
between </span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>9am</span></font><font
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'> and </span></font><font =
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'>6pm</span></font><font =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>. Today, three days later, the =
</span></font><font
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>Moscow</span></font><font
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>School District</span></font><font =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'> was watering the grass at =
</span></font><font
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>Russell</span></font><font
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>School</span></font><font =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'> at </span></font><font face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>10am</span></font><font face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>, using a leaky hose and standard air =
delivered
sprinklers. At </span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:
Arial'>11 am</span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial'> I
noticed someone watering plants at the 1912 Building by hand using a
hose. The action of the council was clearly designed to be feel =
good
propaganda and not a meaningful response.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I examined my water bill payments for all of =
2002. My
payments did not significantly change from month to month except for =
July and
August. However, I do not know if the change was due to increased =
use or
the surcharge the city puts on summer use. I suspect some increase =
in
usage but mostly the increase is the result of the =
surcharge..</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I realize that the city claim of doubled pumping of =
water is
probably true. But, when the city sends out a survey that infers =
private
homeowners are solely responsible for excessive water use, and suggests =
these
home owners should voluntarily cut back, it is making an unsupported
assumption. I do not believe that homeowners are responsible for =
the
doubling of water use in the summer. Certainly, some use much =
more, but
enough to double the pumping?? Hardly!</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>What is the city’s metered water use month by
month?? How about the county?? School district?? Other =
civic
and governmental organizations?? How much does the city pay for
water?? How about our malls? The fountain in downtown and at =
the
entrance to UI?</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The council should take this situation =
seriously. Last
years ban was largely ignored by the individual home owner. The =
council
claim that the water department was “broke”, followed by =
drastic
increases in fees, followed by the senior administrative staff getting =
pay
increases on par with </span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:
Arial'>Spokane</span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>
and </span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>Twin Falls</span></font><font
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'>, speaks to a city =
council with a
severe lack of credibility.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Let’s start with a complete examination of all =
water
use in </span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial'>Moscow</span></font><font
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-family:Arial'> and what could be done
differently. Let’s examine recycling water where we can, =
being
efficient with water use, not just at home but in all aspects of the =
community.
Let’s see the city step up to its responsibilities. Yes, the
aquifer is a gun pointed at the head of this community, but it is the =
city
council’s finger on the trigger!</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>At the rate it is falling, and considering water as a
limiting factor, can this community continue to support a 13,000 student
university, much less the projected increase to =
15,000?</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>John</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><a =
href=3D"mailto:jdanahy@turbonet.com">jdanahy@turbonet.com</a></span></fon=
t></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
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