Santa Monica Water Rates in Line with Task Ahead

December 27, 2016 4:28 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- In 2014, the City Council provided a framework for contemplating rate adjustments over a five-year period, and a 5% rate increase was approved for January 1, 2017. The increase brings Santa Monica’s water rates more in line with neighboring water providers. Comparing rates with nine other Southern California providers, Santa Monica's tiered-rate structure currently offers close to the lowest, if not the lowest, rates in the region for the average user.

The 5% rate increase provides the necessary funding to maintain safe and reliable water deliveries for Santa Monica customers at a reasonable price. It also allows for continuing investments in infrastructure and progress towards water self-sufficiency by 2020 while meeting Federal and State regulations and Council-mandated water usage restrictions.

For a single family residence using the City average of 24 HCF (17,952 gallons) over a two-month period, a 5% increase would raise a bi-monthly water bill by $4.06 from $83.08 to $87.14, which works out to be less than a half-cent ($0.00485) per gallon. 

The 5% increase is expected to generate an additional $2M per year for water main replacements, a system that consists of 205 miles of pipeline.  The current budget provides for a 205-year replacement schedule, approximately double the 100-year replacement schedule recommended.  The total water main replacement budget would increase to $4M per year, which would fund two miles annually to achieve a 100-year replacement schedule.  Currently, 4% of the City’s water main system (8 miles) is at or over 100 years old.

Advances in water infrastructure has become increasingly more important as traditional water supplies dry up due to drought and climate change.  The viability of the water fund ensures that we have the resources to maintain the backbone of our water infrastructure and bring on new advanced systems designed to bring more water into the system, systems like water recycling and stormwater catchment – all critical efforts to form a more resilient and sustainable community.   

 

Media Contact

Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov

Departments

Office of Sustainability and the Environment

More Information

https://www.smgov.net/Departments/PublicWorks/ContentWater.aspx?id=7743
https://www.smgov.net/Departments/PublicWorks/ContentWater.aspx?id=7742
https://www.smgov.net/departments/publicworks/water.aspx