San Diegans will be paying about 16 percent more for their water next year, the San Diego City Council decided Tuesday evening.
In a 7-2 vote, the council voted to lower the proposed 17 percent rate hike to 16 percent as they faced angry residents who said they should not be penalized for saving water.
The increase will go into effect Jan. 1, 2016. Over the next four years under the new rate schedule, residents will end up paying 40 percent more for water than they do today.
The council also voted to launch a study of new rate structures that would reward water conservation and provide relief to low-income households.
City officials say there is no getting around paying more without jeopardizing the water delivery system. The increase pays for infrastructure maintenance and the rising cost of imported water from outside the county. Click here to read more on why water rates are going up.
But opponents say a 16-percent increase in one year is too much too soon, especially for low-income households.
"Many families will suffer," said Monica Cortez with the Workers Benefit Council. "They'll get their water turned off. They won't be able to pay their bills. That will also create a public health hazard."
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Since Tuesday morning, Cortez and others have packed the council chambers, many demanding councilmembers deny the increase.
South Bay residents arrived to protest rate hikes for recycled water, which they say will be higher than households in northern council districts would be charged.
Officials say without that money, the system's finances would be at such risk that credit agencies would lower the city's bond ratings, and thus hike the cost of borrowing.
They also warn that would scuttle a pure-water recycling program to produce a third of the city's drinking water within 20 years.
"We're going to have to invest in our water infrastructure and in our future water supplies in order to have a sustainable future," said Wendy Broley. "Conservation alone can't cut it. We're going to have to do more."
City officials also point out that the increases would cover pass-through costs of water from the Poseidon desalination plant, which is close to coming online in Carlsbad.
