: As residents grew more efficient and used less water, the town faced a financial gap; they still had to pay for the minimum wholesale volume they'd committed to, forcing them to raise retail rates on the very people who were saving water.
The "wholesale model" seemed like a lifeline, allowing Oakhaven to tap into an existing, reliable supply without the $20 million upfront cost of a new plant. However, the deal came with its own set of challenges: buy water wholesale
: While the initial connection was cheaper, the long-term monthly costs of buying water were often higher than producing it locally. : As residents grew more efficient and used