Why is the City of Laredo failing to protect our potable water?
Selected excerpts from "VIDA raises Laredo water resale concerns" By Mikaela Rodriguez
LAREDO MORNING TIMES Published: Sunday, September 30, 2012
Local ethics group Voices in Democratic Action voiced concerns over the illegal sale of potable city water to third party companies for fracking use during a regular meeting Saturday.
VIDA members said current drought restrictions unfairly constrain citizens’ water usage, while vacuum companies who have permits to buy city water are allowed up to 122,800 gallons at a monthly rate of about $400.
City Manager Carlos VIllarreal said while he is aware of certain companies illegally redistributing water, he never authorized them to resell it. Villarreal said instances of companies making a profit from city water are being investigated, and said the Utilities Department is in the process of determining whether violations occurred and is issuing citations.
“Definitely, it’s a problem and we’re looking into it,” Councilman Alex Perez said. Perez said the Utilities Department has collected photos and license plate numbers of vehicles stealing water at hydrants or taking it for resale as part of the city’s investigation into the matter.
[END OF SELECTED EXCERPT]
It is illegal for anyone to resell the water it buys from the City of Laredo.
Sec. 31-127. - Resale of water prohibited.
No person, firm, corporation or entity shall ever sell any water supplied to it by the city to any other person, firm, corporation or entity, which is not a customer of the city, whether for residential, industrial, mining or any other use. Sale of water by any customer of the city's water service to any third party is prohibited. (Ord. No. 86-188, § 1, 10-20-86)
Sec. 31-128. - Uses prohibited in certain circumstances.
In the event of any of the following contingencies:
(1) Severe drought;
(2) Contamination of raw water supplies;
(3) An electrical power blackout;
(4) Demand on the water system severely exceeding the system's ability to produce and deliver potable water in the city; or
(5) National emergency; which is so published by the city manager, it shall be unlawful for any person to use water supplied by the city for the purpose of washing cars, sprinkling, watering or irrigating lawns, flowers, shrubbery, trees, crops and gardens, or cleaning, flushing or watering sidewalks, driveways, porches, houses or any and all other structures, streets and other public ways, or for mining purposes, industrial uses or any other use not specifically authorized by the city.
More information on this issue will be posted soon.
Laredo's water rates are much higher than McAllen's water rates. Click here for details.
LAREDO MORNING TIMES Published: Sunday, September 30, 2012
Local ethics group Voices in Democratic Action voiced concerns over the illegal sale of potable city water to third party companies for fracking use during a regular meeting Saturday.
VIDA members said current drought restrictions unfairly constrain citizens’ water usage, while vacuum companies who have permits to buy city water are allowed up to 122,800 gallons at a monthly rate of about $400.
City Manager Carlos VIllarreal said while he is aware of certain companies illegally redistributing water, he never authorized them to resell it. Villarreal said instances of companies making a profit from city water are being investigated, and said the Utilities Department is in the process of determining whether violations occurred and is issuing citations.
“Definitely, it’s a problem and we’re looking into it,” Councilman Alex Perez said. Perez said the Utilities Department has collected photos and license plate numbers of vehicles stealing water at hydrants or taking it for resale as part of the city’s investigation into the matter.
[END OF SELECTED EXCERPT]
It is illegal for anyone to resell the water it buys from the City of Laredo.
Sec. 31-127. - Resale of water prohibited.
No person, firm, corporation or entity shall ever sell any water supplied to it by the city to any other person, firm, corporation or entity, which is not a customer of the city, whether for residential, industrial, mining or any other use. Sale of water by any customer of the city's water service to any third party is prohibited. (Ord. No. 86-188, § 1, 10-20-86)
Sec. 31-128. - Uses prohibited in certain circumstances.
In the event of any of the following contingencies:
(1) Severe drought;
(2) Contamination of raw water supplies;
(3) An electrical power blackout;
(4) Demand on the water system severely exceeding the system's ability to produce and deliver potable water in the city; or
(5) National emergency; which is so published by the city manager, it shall be unlawful for any person to use water supplied by the city for the purpose of washing cars, sprinkling, watering or irrigating lawns, flowers, shrubbery, trees, crops and gardens, or cleaning, flushing or watering sidewalks, driveways, porches, houses or any and all other structures, streets and other public ways, or for mining purposes, industrial uses or any other use not specifically authorized by the city.
More information on this issue will be posted soon.
Laredo's water rates are much higher than McAllen's water rates. Click here for details.