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Commissioners Discuss Hikes to Long Beach Water Rates; Vote Expected June 22

/in , , /by /Long Beach Postby Jason Ruiz

Long Beach Utilities commissioners met again Thursday to discuss a potential rate hike for water, which could be as high as 10% next year as the department deals with declining sales due to customer conservation, increasing costs and an expanding capital investment plan that could, in the long term, increase the city’s supply of less expensive groundwater.

A staff-recommended hike of 10% for water rates next year would amount to a $5.69 monthly increase for the average customer, according to the department. However, an alternate increase of 9% that was requested at the commission’s last meeting would add about $5.13 to the monthly bill.

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Water Bills Will Spike for 140,000 San Jose Residents Starting July 1

/in , , /by /The Mercury Newsby Gabriel Greschler

Water bills will be rising for nearly a tenth of San Jose’s residents starting July 1 after San Jose councilmembers approved the rate hike on Tuesday — one of the largest increases in the region this year.

Customers under the city-run San Jose Municipal Water System (SJMWS) will see a 14% rise in their bills — about $16 extra per month. SJMWS serves roughly 140,000 residents in North San Jose, Alviso, Evergreen, Edenvale and Coyote Valley.

Officials blame the rising costs on increased prices from third-party water providers, supply and usage issues related to drought conditions and future infrastructure projects. In total, SJMWS expects to receive $8.9 million from the increase.

Councilmembers voted 9-2 for the price increase, with Councilmembers Domingo Candelas and Bien Doan voting against it.

Water usage is expected to remain the same this coming year — and costs are expected to rise in the years ahead. By 2024, water bills could go up by 15%, 11.5% in 2025 and 10% for the next seven years after that.

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Fallbrook, Rainbow Water ‘Divorce’ Decision Delayed Until August

/in , /by /KPBSby Alexander Nguyen Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

A local government body on Monday delayed the decision on whether two North County water districts can leave the San Diego County Water Authority to buy cheaper water elsewhere.

Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District want a divorce from the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) because they say the water rate is too high. They want to move to the Eastern Municipal Water District in Riverside for its cheaper water. It’s a process called detachment.

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Los Angeles Steps Into San Diego’s Water Divorce

/in , /by /Voice of San Diegoby MacKenzie Elmer Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

In their efforts to break away from the San Diego County Water Authority, two small farming communities have run into a powerful and unexpected foe: The Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

At least, they ran into the man who chairs Metropolitan’s board: Adán Ortega Jr., a water policy consultant and former lobbyist elected in October to lead at Met.

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Morning Report: State Steps Into San Diego’s Water Divorce Debate

/in , /by /Voice of San Diego by Voice of San Diego

A bill in the state Assembly would make it harder for local water districts to leave their regional partnerships if they’re seeking cheaper water rates. That’s what two small, North County farming communities have been fighting to do for the last three years.

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Slew of Water Bills Swirl Around Sacramento

/in , , /by /SJV Waterby Jesse Vad

Senior water rights holders have arguably the sweetest deal in California water. They often have ironclad deals and some even get access to substantial water during the worst of drought.

But three new bills in the state legislature are taking aim at senior water rights in an attempt to level the playing field.

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Rainbow, Fallbrook Considering Split From San Diego County Water Authority

/in , /by /NBC 7 by Brooke Martell Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

NBC 7’s Brooke Martell explains how a split could impact residents in Rainbow and Fallbrook, as well as their neighbors in other communities.

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Pasadena’s Watering Rules Could Be Relaxed, 15% Water Conservation Target Could Be Lifted

/in , , /by /Pasadena Nowby André Coleman

The City Council on Monday will consider shifting watering rules from the current two days per summertime week to three days per summertime week and to simultaneously lift the 15 percent voluntary water-use reduction target.

The current Level 2 of the City’s Water Shortage Plan went into effect on August 16, 2021, before the state was deluged with trillions of gallons of rain from a series of atmospheric river storms.

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Analysis Endorses San Diego Plan for 18 Percent Water Rate Hike — but Single-Family Home Customers May Get a Break

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby David Garrick

San Diego’s proposal to sharply raise water rates over the next two years may be putting too much financial burden on single-family home customers and not enough on businesses and condominium and apartment complexes, a new analysis says.

City officials are proposing 17.6 percent overall water rate hikes over the next two years based on a consultant’s analysis last fall that said annual revenue must increase from $566 million to $602 million to cover rising expenses.

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Helix Water District Upgrades Water Treatment, Saves Costs

/in , , /by /Water News Network

A recent upgrade to a Helix Water District treatment plant saved money for its ratepayers while ensuring a continued supply of high quality drinking water. After 20 years of service, the ozone disinfection system at the R.M. Levy Water Treatment Plant needed an upgrade.

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