What are the major costs to operate the water system?

Water supply (22%) and labor (29%) that is available 24 hours per day 7 days per week combine to represent more than half of annual operating costs. The cost for equipment, machinery, pumps, and supplies is the next largest component. Chemicals used for water treatment are a significant fixed cost. View details in Water Rates - Breakdown of Each Dollar Spent (PDF).

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1. Why do water rates need to be raised?
2. What would happen if we didn't raise the rates?
3. Why is a fixed service charge included on my bill?
4. I liked that three units (3,000 gallons) of water were included in the bimonthly service charge we had before. Why do we have to change?
5. I am on a fixed income and am a low water user. Why is my bill going up by $11 per month while a large user's bill is only going up by $5 per month?
6. Why don't multi-family, commercial, and irrigation customers have tiered rates like single-family residential?
7. Why does the City bill for water every two months instead of monthly like most of my other bills?
8. Why is $6 million needed per year for Capital Improvements?
9. Why doesn't new development pay for capital improvements?
10. What are the major costs to operate the water system?
11. What has been done to lower operating costs?
12. Why don't you lay off employees or reduce salaries to cut costs?
13. Does a water customer in Napa pay more or less than similar customers in neighboring communities?