Bo Poertner 77 Staff Writer | Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 12:00 am
7/15/03 Residents can expect hefty increases next month in their water and sewer rates and again next summer as the city maneuvers to pay for mandated upgrades in its wastewater treatment plant.
Utility Director Jim Beck said Monday night that customers both times would pay about 6.5 percent more for water and 16.5 percent more for sewer services to help pay for nearly ,50 million worth of improvements to the treatment plant.
"It/s a big rate increase. There/s no denying it," Beck told the city Utility Commission. "These are major upgrades.//
The upgrades were required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board because the city discharges its treated water into San Miguelito Creek, a tributary of the Santa Ynez River, Beck said. Vandenberg Village Community Services District and Vandenberg Air Force Base, which use Lompoc/s treatment plant, will share in the cost. Each would contribute about 16.5 percent of the total, he said.
A customer now paying ,33.22 for water, would pay an additional ,2.21 after the first increase and ,2.27 after the second increase 77 a total rate hike of about 13.5 percent.
That same customer, now paying ,27.96 for sewer, would pay an additional ,4.10 after the first increase and another ,4.80 for the second increase 77 a total increase of about 32 percent.
Since rates are based on water usage, customers who use more water would pay more. Those who use less, would pay less for water and sewer services.
The rate increases, which are scheduled for approval by the City Council on August 5, didn/t come as a surprise. They were included in the two-year city budget that the council approved last month.
Despite the increases, the city/s rates remain competitive with its neighbors, said Commission Chairman Dave Pierce. "It makes you wonder what other people are doing wrong," he said.
The city of Santa Maria charges substantially less for sewer services, but has a less expensive system because it doesn/t discharge its treated water into the river. "We think they will pay the piper when someone decides to limit the seepage into the ground,// Beck said.
Staff writer Bo Poertner can be reached at 736-2313, Ext. 126, or e-mail at bpoertner@lompocrecord.com