Block Billing and Water Restrictions

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes water restrictions in Lubbock Texas. Specifically, discusses local water restrictions and the block billing system that the city council designed. The paper criticizes Lubbock's introduction of block billing and raising water rates as a tool for water conservation. The paper explains that the billing is based on faulty calculations and will result in home and business owners paying more than their fair share of water costs. The paper suggests that to really gain the support of residents, the City Council should reconsider block billing and the time period used to set the rates, as it is faulty, unfair and results in water mismanagement rather than conservation.

From the Paper:

"Block billing is a system of averaging water (or other utility) usage, establishing guidelines, and billing according to an average of water consumption for residential and commercial enterprises. In Lubbock, block billing for water was proposed and adopted in 2006, and went into affect in April 2007. The block billing structure was built on an average from September 2006 through February 2007, but this is a time when consumption is lower than in the warmer summer months. Thus, consumers will be penalized for using normal amounts of water in the summer, because the average is faulty and does not take into consideration the warmer summer weather in Texas. Using a time that water consumption is lower may seem to be a way to ensure consumers conserve more water, but that has already been proved wrong, as the system was only in effect a little over two months when residents were placed on emergency water restrictions."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blackburn, E. (2007). New water rates discourage use of high volume. Retrieved from the Lubbock Avalanche Journal Web site: http://lubbockonline.com/stories/022307/loc_022307069.shtml 22 June 2007.
• (2007). Comprehensive water conservation requirements. Retrieved from the City of Santa Fe Web site: http://santafenm.gov/waterwise/newcompwaterconservreq.pdf 22 June 2007.
• Editors. (2007). Water rate information calculation method. Retrieved from the Lubbock Power and Light Web site: http://www.lpandl.com/waterrates.htm 22 June 2007.
• Editors. (2007.) Desalination. Retrieved from the General Electric Web site: http://www.gewater.com/equipment/membranehousing/desal.jsp 22 June 2007.
• (2006). Revenue manual. Retrieved from the City of Dover Web site: http://www.cityofdover.com/media/documents/budget-Revenue_Manual_03-15-05.pdf 22 June 2007.

More papers on Block Billing and Water Restrictions:

• Analytical Essay # 139216 : "Transportation and Water Management"
• Analytical Essay # 123324 : "Los Angeles Aqueduct and Water"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 106258 : "Air and Water Pollution"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: