Conserve water first

Along with this month’s city utility bill is a notice about new rates. Service charge totals are down $4.41. The new sewer consumption charge and the water conservation charge (both billed every other month) will add $60.93 or 36.28 percent, to our bill next year in this period, based on the same water usage.

There are two people in our household and we have underground sprinkling, manually adjusted for rainy or cool weather. The time is moved up only when we begin to get brown spots. We live on a corner lot with seven maple trees in the parking strips. Seven trees take a lot of water, and incidentally, are the city’s trees.

I’d sure like to see some citywide conservation measures taken, such as particular watering days/hours, before this increase takes place. By the way, I called the Park Department this summer to complain about the water that was running down the street and hitting cars parked across the street from Manito Park. No action taken.

Seems like the city could lead by example.

Linda Neely

Spokane