Why this matters

Starting in January, the Otay Water District’s nearly 240,000 customers will get hit with both higher water and sewer rates on their monthly bills.

Southeastern San Diego County residents can expect even pricier water bills due to higher sewer rates that their water agency approved earlier this month.

Otay Water District board members unanimously approved gradually increasing sewer rates over a five-year period. Next year’s hike takes effect in January and will raise the cost of sewer service by about 4%, though increases in subsequent years could reach nearly 10%.

Right now, the average single-family residential customer pays about $20 a month for sewer system charges. By 2030, that household will pay roughly $30. If inflation is higher than projected, residents could pay even more.

Otay Water officials say the new rates are necessary to cover anticipated rising costs for sewage treatment, as well as increases in payroll and construction costs.

Their decision comes just a few months after the district notified residents of an additional increase to their bills: Water rates will go up by about 8% in January, with the agency citing costs passed down from its wholesale suppliers, taking effect next year.

Mark Robak, an Otay Water board member, said the agency still has some of the lowest rates in the county.

“There’s no stone unturned, we’re looking for efficiencies,” he said during the Oct. 1 meeting. “The way we’ve come up with our matrix in terms of charges is fair and equitable.” 

Otay Water serves about 240,000 residents in Otay Mesa, eastern Chula Vista, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego and unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa.

From the Documenters

This story came in part from notes taken by Roman Fong, a San Diego Documenter, at an Otay Water District Board of Directors meeting this month. The Documenters program trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings. Read the note here.

Type of Content

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.