Your Water Bill is Going Up Again July 1. Here's What to Know.
August bills will reflect the latest increase as the City's multi-year water and sewer rate plan continues through 2029.
If your water bill seems higher than usual, here’s why.
A 35% water rate increase took effect Jan. 1, and another 25% increase took effect July 1, as part of a multi-year rate plan approved by the City Council
earlier this year. Because the City bills water and sewer every other month, many residents won’t see the latest increase reflected until bills arrive in August.
These increases are part of a five-year schedule the Council unanimously approved following a Proposition 218 public hearing in November 2025. The plan raises water rates annually through July 1, 2029, while sewer rates increase 15% each year over the same period.
The City said the higher rates are intended to fund ongoing operation, maintenance and capital improvements to the water and wastewater systems.
You can estimate how much the increase will affect your monthly bill by using the City's online water and wastewater bill calculator.
Why Did Rates Increase?
The City originally proposed a 50% water rate increase beginning Jan. 1, followed by a 25% increase July 1 and smaller annual increases through 2029.
During the Proposition 218 public hearing, City staff and consultants presented revised options after receiving public feedback. The Council ultimately adopted a plan that reduced the initial increase to 35% while keeping the July 1 increase at 25%.
Property owners submitted 1,532 written protests before the hearing. Under Proposition 218, at least 4,769 valid protests—a majority of affected parcels—were required to prevent the rate increases from taking effect.
The Council directed City staff to conduct an updated water and sewer rate study in late 2026 or early 2027 to determine whether future scheduled increases remain necessary.
What's Next?
Unless the Council changes the schedule following the updated rate study, additional increases are planned each July through 2029.
Water rates
- Jan. 1, 2026: 35% ✔
- July 1, 2026: 25% ✔
- July 1, 2027: 15%
- July 1, 2028: 10%
- July 1, 2029: 10%
Sewer rates
- Jan. 1, 2026: 15% ✔
- July 1, 2026: 15% ✔
- July 1, 2027: 15%
- July 1, 2028: 15%
- July 1, 2029: 15%
