Water rates in San Diego County could increase next year, if a proposed rate hike is approved.
The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) is pushing for a 3.7 percent rate hike 2018.
On Thursday, SDCWA announced it will recommend increasing rates charged to its member agencies for both treated and untreated water.
The hike is partly to offset higher rates and charges from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). They are also impacted by the decrease in water sales due to conservation efforts, which have continued, even after the end of drought conditions and state mandated water-use restrictions.
According to the SDCWA, the proposed rate hike is the smallest since 2014.
“Prudent investments in our own water supplies helped our region withstand the recent five-year drought and emerge from it with even greater water supply reliability, and we are continuing to strengthen that reliability to sustain our region’s $222 billion economy and 3.3 million people,” said Maureen Stapleton, general manager of the Water Authority.
MWD supplies more than 40 percent of the water in San Diego County.
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The proposed rate hike and a two-year budget for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 will go before the agency's Board of Directors on May 25.
There will be a public hearing on June 22.
