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gallons per quarter and would not hit the higher tier. However, a 4- person household would use 20,000 gallons per quarter and hit the higher tier simply because there are more people living in the house. On an individual basis the 4- person household is just as conservative in their water use, but they pay a higher rate nonetheless. Taking this example further, let's assume that the 4- person household is even more conservative and uses only 4,500 gallons per quarter, per person. This amounts to 18,000 gallons per quarter which once again triggers the higher tier rate. In this example, the 4- person household pays a higher rate despite having superior conservation behaviors compared to the smaller household. This example underscores the policy challenge of instituting a water conservation rate structure that is effective without punishing those that are already exhibiting the behavior you're trying to foster.