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Water, Sewer Bills in This SLO County City Could Rise by Nearly 20% Due to Deficit

Water and sewer bills in Grover Beach could increase by nearly 20% to make up for a $2 million deficit in revenue, the city announced Wednesday in a news release. At its Sept. 5 meeting, the Grover Beach City Council learned about the findings from a recent utility rate study, heard recommendations and unanimously instructed the city staff to start the Proposition 218 process, a step in notifying the public about proposed rate changes, the release said.

 

Column: Help is on the Way for Low-Income Residents Struggling with Water, Sewer Bills

In California, low-income residents can get ongoing state help to pay for electricity, health care coverage and telephone service, among other things.

But for the most part, people struggling to make ends meet can’t get similar assistance for water and sewer bills.

That’s changing for the immediate future, and maybe in the long run as well.

People in need can apply for one-time grants of up to $2,000 for water and sewer debts through the federally funded Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, which began rolling out earlier this summer.

Locally, eligibility requirements and applications can be found on a webpage of the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County (maacproject.org/lihwap). MAAC, the San Diego County Water Authority and Campesinos Unidos recently announced they are teaming up to spread the word and assist with the program.

Ratepayers Could Block San Diego Water, Wastewater Rate Changes

If you live in San Diego and pay your own water and sewer bills, you should have gotten a mailer recently from the city government. It was easy to miss, but it has important details on how much the city wants to raise its rates, and included a way residents and businesses could potentially block the proposal.

Under the proposal, San Diego businesses and residents of apartment buildings would initially pay cheaper wastewater rates, while residents of single-family homes would see their rates go up. The changes are part of an overhaul to city fees used to maintain the sewage system.

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Olivenhain Municipal Water District Sewer Customers Will Not Face Higher Rates in 2020

Encinitas, Calif. —Following a review of its sewer rates and charges, Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors voted at its May 20 meeting to hold the line on current sewer rates and fees rather than increase rates as scheduled.

Democrats, Nonprofits Urge Congress to Help Keep Water Flowing

Republican and Democratic congressional leaders were urged Tuesday to include at least $12.5 billion in stimulus funds to help people struggling to pay their water and sewer bills.

Congress is preparing another stimulus package that will include billions of dollars to improve the nation’s aging water and sewer infrastructure. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already has indicated her support for legislation to help families who can’t afford to pay their water and sewer bills.

House Democrats and a coalition of environmental, social justice, labor and religious groups wrote separate letters to congressional leaders seeking assistance for local water and wastewater utilities that are losing revenue from suspending water and sewer shutoffs and forgiving water and sewer debts.

“Handwashing is our first line of defense against the spread of COVID-19,” the deadly pandemic spread by coronavirus, Rep. Brenda L. Lawrence (D-Mich.) wrote in a letter on behalf of 80 Democrats.