Walrus Team 6

Dear Editor:

The water bill primer was quite informative. However, the real meaning of some of the acronyms was not provided. Thanks to the extremely dangerous undercover work undertaken by Walrus Team 6 (not quite as elite as Seal Team 6), we are able to provide the definitions Golden State Water does not want you to know. 

First, any item labeled “surcharge” comes from the phrase “Sure, charge them whatever we need to get our high salaries and bonuses.”

Second, WRAM is short for “We Reserve the right to Always make Money.” Third, MCBA is short for “Money Can Buy All regulators.” Fourth, CARW’ means “Cash Always Remedies actual Work.” Fifth, CCF stands for “Cash From Claremont Fools.”

Our hats are off to the brave and intrepid individuals who risked their coffee breaks to obtain this information for us. Go Walrus Team 6!

Chuck Leeb

Claremont

Crossword addicts

Dear Editor:

In the October 10 edition of the COURIER, there was an obituary stating the woman—among other things—was a crossword puzzle maven.

I, too, am a crossword addict. When that great puzzler in the sky calls me, I want to be laid to rest in the true spirit of dyed-in-the-wool puzzlers, i.e., 6 down and 3 across.

Conrad Casler

Claremont

Burying the truth

Dear Editor:

The October 10 COURIER article, “Water Bill Primer,” was informative but contained a couple of errors or possible misrepresentations by Golden State Water.

The statement was made that the size of the water meter provided is based on the amount of water used. Actually, over the last 4 years, it has been GSWC’s policy to replace smaller meters with larger meters, which consequently brings increased revenue to GSWC with increased “rent” on the meter.

Secondly, the statement, “Each month, a Golden State official reads the meter…” was certainly not true with 3 homes on our block. When we had a room addition and had to temporarily turn off our water, we discovered the water meter was buried under 9 to 10 inches of well-packed worm casings and dead snail shells. To have worms in our dry-landscaped yard produce so prodigiously in only one month, or 2, seems highly unlikely.

A check of the neighbors’ meters on each side exposed similar or worse situations, well-buried meters, one with a cover that had been completely overgrown.

John Roseman

Claremont