[pauloalto]

A price mechanism would (I presume) be the better system for managing water in California. Nevertheless it seems kind of strange to think that a lot of rain should automatically change California's water policy outlook. That's the type of short-term-driven behavior that got the Western U.S. into this mess in the first place.

You're probably right, WIM, tiered pricing would help, but it would be unconstitutional. A 1996 California initiative banned cities from charging more for services than they cost.

[pauloalto]

A price mechanism would (I presume) be the better system for managing water in California. Nevertheless it seems kind of strange to think that a lot of rain should automatically change California's water policy outlook. That's the type of short-term-driven behavior that got the Western U.S. into this mess in the first place.

You're probably right, WIM, tiered pricing would help, but it would be unconstitutional. A 1996 California initiative banned cities from charging more for services than they cost.