SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Residents in the city of San Diego will be paying more for their water starting Aug. 1.
City water rates are up 2.16 percent -- an increase that was approved by the San Diego City Council in 2015 as part of a compounded four-year rate increase of 35 percent.
Funding from the hike will be used for “water reliability and infrastructure improvements,” according to city officials.
City officials explained:
To ensure customers pay only for what is necessary to provide water to their homes and businesses, the City completes a Cost of Service Study (COSS) every five years. The 2015 COSS considered the need for water pipeline maintenance and replacement, along with continued investment in water quality testing and increases in costs passed on from other water agencies. The City Council then approved estimated increases through 2019. Prior to the implementation of each increase, the City analyzes the estimates to ensure they are still correct. The City Council-approved rate increases are below. This year’s increase is lower than others because of the availability of local water and the lower than estimated rate increase from our wholesaler, reducing the estimated increase to 2.16 percent from the previously approved 5 percent.
- Jan. 2016: 9.8 percent
- Aug. 2016: 7.23 percent
- Aug. 2017: 6.93 percent
- Aug. 2018: 2.16 percent
- July 2019 (estimate): 7 percent
The next COSS will be completed in 2020.
According to city officials, the 2.16 percent increase translates to about $3.75 more per bi-monthly bill for residents living in a single-family home that use 1,200 cubic feet of water per month.
The city provides an assistance program called Help to Others (H2O) that helps those who need financial help in paying their water bills.
For more information on water rates, conserving water or to report meter issues or leaks, visit SanDiego.gov/water.
