Project Upgrades Planned
Project Upgrades Rate Increases Public Hearing Q&A Documents

Rate Increases

With current economic conditions affecting many of our customers, new rates would be held to the lowest level possible while providing sufficient funding for current and future operation and maintenance and capital improvement budgets.

The District’s rates currently are among the lowest in the region, and even with the proposed increases, the rates are expected to remain below average. Rates are designed to cover the actual cost of service.

Residential rates are a basic flat fee for each dwelling unit. Non-residential rates are based on water usage and a strength factor to calculate individual costs to treat wastewater.

Residential Rates

Each residential unit is charged the basic flat rate. This applies to single-family homes, apartments, condominiums and other multi-family dwellings, and mobile home and trailer parks.

For rooming houses, the basic flat rate is applied to each of the first two rooms used for renting and one-quarter of the basic rate for each additional rented rom.

For purposes of rates, motels are considered residential. Each motel unit with a kitchen is charged the basic rate, and each motel unit without a kitchen is charged one-half the basic rate.

  • Current: For 2008-09, the basic rate is $303 a year or 83 cents a day.
  • Proposed:
    • 2009-10, $493 a year or $1.35 a day.
    • 2010-11, $563 a year or $1.54 a day.
    • 2011-12, $613 a year or $1.68 a day.
    • 2012-13, $662 a year or $1.81 a day.
    • 2013-14, $680 a year or $1.86 a day.

Non-Residential Rates

Increases for non-residential rates are similar to the rise in residential rates. Rates are calculated individually for each type of non-residential use.

To determine an estimated cost to collect and treat wastewater from a non-residential customer, the District calculates the cost based on water usage and a strength factor, which is an average cost to treat wastewater from a particular type of non-residential customer.

Thus, a low water user would pay less than a high water user in the same category of non-residential customers with the same strength factor. And, for two non-residential customers with the same water use, the one with the higher strength factor would pay more.

Strength factors vary from 1.0 for offices, retail stores, churches and laundromats to 2.6 for restaurants, bakeries and markets.

For information on the specific rates for individual non-residential customers, contact the District office at 415-472-1734.