Court Won't Take MWD Water Fees Case

21 September 2000 - 8:30am

The Supreme Court refused to take a petition by the San DiegoCounty Water Authority to limit the Metropolitan Water District's policyof charging fees to water agencies that want to use its water supplysystem.

Water authority officials argue that the Metropolitan impedescompetition through their high access fees, and others involved inprivate water sales add that these fees would prevent water transfers, apolicy endorsed by Gov. Gray Davis and the Clinton administration.Metropolitan representatives counter that private interests should payto use their pipes to cover the costs of maintaining the system, whichincludes environmental protection.

Source: The Houston Chronicle, September 15, 2000