ISSIBLE IKKKUTION CUAKQES Gl 



ClIAPTKR Vlll 



COST OF WATER TO IRRIGATORS IN THE UPPER 

 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY 



Studies of tlu' cost of water to certain irrijjators in Kind's, Kern 

 and Tulare counties were carried on con<'urrently with those on the 

 cost of crop production. Kxe«'lh>nt eoopi-ration was reeeived from 

 officials of the irrijration districts, water companies, the two power 

 companies and the many individuals calle<l upon for information. 



Examination of the tables wliieh follow will di.sclose that it was 

 po«vsible to obtain the cost to irri^rators of fjravity water supplied by 

 in<»t of the important pravity systems, but that the nund)er of farms 

 served by individual pumpinj; plants upon which it was possible to 

 obtain reliable data within the time available is a very small part of 

 the total nund)or. Within Kin>;s, Kern, and Tulare counties approxi- 

 mately ll.dOO electrically operated pumping; plants, not to mention a 

 smaller, but unknown number of enpine-<lriven punjpinj; plants, supply 

 iripation water, both within and without areas receivinp gravity water. 



The cost of water to the irriirators receivinp water from an irriga- 

 tion district or water company in any one year or proup of years nuiy 

 either bo more or less than the cost to the district or company. Since 

 this .study is concerned with the cost of water to the irripators. an<l not 

 with the cost to the districts or companies, it is not nece.s.sary to 

 determine whether cluirpes made by the latter include all items of 

 co>t. such as depreciation. 



Method of Determining Cost of Water Supplied by Fmrm Pumping Plants. 



The following elements were considered as making up the cast of 

 water to irrigators using farm pumping plants: 



1. I'ower charge for 1H29 irrigation season. 



2. Repairs and lubrication. 



3. Depreciation. 



4. Interest. 

 ,5. Taxes. 



I'owiT I lor r.>21^ wen* re«-eivi'ii directly from the .^southern 



Califftrnia ;. .. n Company an<I the San .Joaquin Light anil I'ower 

 Company after the plant numlM»rs had Ix^on obtained in the field. 



Information regarding ex|>enditures for repairs was obtaintnl from 

 individuals, but very few exact r^ were available. l'onHi>«|uently, 



it was nece.s.sary to i: * ■ ii the ' * * ' ! and the 



judgment of the in . ur eo^ , m varietl 



from $45 for five-ho; er plants to $120 for 50-horHcpowcr plants. 



Repair costs in the Tuiare Lake basin, where the quality of the water 



• frejtarrd by C V «;ivAn an.J J K ••n. junior IfTlffatloo encln««ra. 



DIvialon of Irrigation Inve«tivatton« and Vi~ — <, 



