We applaud the COURIER’s attempt to educate Claremont residents on their water bills. As your recent article, “Drop by Drop,” correctly points out, water bills in Claremont are not only difficult to understand but they also include additional charges on high water users, as well as charges for those who choose to conserve.
In other words, the private water company who services Claremont, Golden State Water, can’t lose. We get charged additional fees whether we use or save water.
It was in the Negev Desert on an archaeological excavation when I first thought about building a cistern in my backyard.
I was a Pomona College sophomore on a summer internship when I climbed to the top of Masada, the ruins of King Herod’s desert palace. Perched on the edge of a steep 1800-foot plateau, Masada stands like a sandy lighthouse watching over the nearby brackish Dead Sea. Built as a luxurious safe house for the Levantine king, Masada is an impressive example of the sustainability of Roman architecture.
[Editor’s note: The following viewpoint was submitted in an effort to refute claims made by Golden State Water in their letter to Claremont customers that was distributed September 11, 2012 by Denise Kruger, senior vice president of GSW. The original letter can be viewed at http://www.gswater.com/csa_home pages/claremont.html. —KD]
