Even with two years of conservation, the pain of the drought may show up in Santa Barbara water bills this July.
A new study shows funding for the water department is down, and rates will likely have to go up.
The city may also dip into reserves or come up with a combination of both rate increases and the use of reserves.
The formula will be laid out next month but already council members are squirming over the water cost changes for customers especially those who may be on limited incomes or those who truly have been conserving more than 25 percent for months, as asked.
At the same time work is proceeding on the water desalination plant which has a price tag in excess of $55 million.
If more rain does not come down this winter, residents may be asked to conserve up to 35 percent. Already, in a city discussion, it was revealed, the drought impacts once forecasted to be likely over in 2017 will be calculated to go into 2018 as the city plans for its water supply options.
A county water report on Cachuma Lake shows it is only at 14.8 percent of its overall capacity, just about the same level it was on January 1.
The public will be able to comment on the water rate proposal options at a city council meeting before the plan is approved, and notices will be mailed out well in advance of the rate increases.
