Vallecitos Water District customers will see higher water bills starting Jan. 1 following an Oct. 15 Board of Directors vote to approve a rate increase.
District officials said in an Oct. 24 news release that the change is necessary to keep up with rising costs for imported water and electricity while maintaining reliable and safe service for residents across San Marcos, Lake San Marcos and nearby communities.
About three-quarters of Vallecitos’ operating costs go toward purchasing wholesale water from the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Those regional suppliers import water from the Colorado River and Northern California, where costs continue to rise. The district is also grappling with higher San Diego Gas & Electric rates, which affect the cost of pumping and delivering water to homes and businesses.
For the average single-family household using about 13 units of water per month, the increase translates to a 13.2% jump in the water portion of the bill — raising the cost from roughly 1.15 cents per gallon to 1.3 cents, according to figured includes in district’s announcement. The district stated that sewer rates will remain unchanged, however, and have not increased in more than a decade.
The figures were provided by district Principal Financial Analyst Mike Arthur.
Customers living at higher elevations, known as “pump zones,” will also see adjustments reflecting the true cost of lifting water uphill. These charges are directly tied to SDG&E’s electricity rates. The new rate structure sets maximum caps for the next four years: wholesale and energy costs may increase by up to 28% annually, and internal district costs by up to 8% — but only if justified by actual expenses.
Meanwhile, the San Diego County Water Authority, which supplies Vallecitos, is backing a federal proposal to help low-income households pay their water and wastewater bills. The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act would provide $500 million annually through 2030 to ease financial strain on families struggling with basic utility costs.
“Water isn’t a luxury – it’s a basic necessity, and no family should have to choose between keeping the lights on, food on the table, or keeping the tap running,” Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano said in an Oct. 23 news release. “Whether it’s a state or federal program, I’ve been clear that we will fully support any opportunity to provide real rate relief to working families across San Diego County. This legislation is a common-sense, needed investment now more than ever.”
The assistance program was first authorized during the COVID-19 pandemic and allocated $1.1 billion, with $115 million to California, to provide water and wastewater bill assistance to U.S. states and territories. It’s been reintroduced by Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois (D-17th District).
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This report was written using artificial intelligence, then edited and fact-checked against source material.
