Courtesy of Mike Frattali: The City Council voted on October 28 to increase sewer rates by 31% over the next four years and water rates by 31% over the next two years. The vote was 5-4 in favor of the increases with District 6 (which includes University City) voting opposition. Refer to:
The city had asked for a 63% increase over the next four years, but the Council, citing concerns about affordability, only approved increases for the first two years (2026 and 2027) and instructed the city to look for cost savings measures to get the rate down and return with an updated proposal.
Councilmember Campillo noted the importance of a reliable water delivery system as critical to fighting wildfires and Councilmember Foster noted that rates for the last two years (2028 and 2029) are not guaranteed to fall even if the city looks for cost savings.
At the center of the rate controversy is the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCTA), an agency made up of most of the water districts and cities that supply water in the county. The water authority purchases, transports, and supplies water on behalf of the member agencies. San Diego is the largest member agency and has 10 of the 34 seats on the board. The costs incurred by the SDCTA are ‘passed through’ to its member agencies.
The city maintains that the SDCTA has developed more water than it can sell, driving up costs that must be passed on to cities like San Diego. The SDCTA blames the city’s Pure Water Program for the cost increases.
For more information about San Diego Water and Sewer rates, visit: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-utilities
See also from the San Diego Union Tribune with this Shareable Link:
Divided council OKs steep San Diego water and sewer rate hikes
