Hot Topic: How Much Will Sewer Rates Increase?

The San Carlos City Council will hold a pubic hearing Tuesday night in consideration of a three-year increase in residential and wastewater (sewer) rates. According to the city staff report, the increase is necessary to cover the cost of the capital improvement program to renovate the aging sewer collection system. If approved, the first increase would take effect this July. 

According to San Carlos City Councilmember Mark Olbert, the residents and businesses can't afford to risk not investing in the city's sewer system.

“Making the repairs on this system will put us on healthy footing for a long time. This is risk management,” said Olbert.

The South Bayside System Authority (SBSA) has embarked on a $420 million capital improvement project to rebuild the 48-inch force main pipe and regional wastewater treatment program. San Carlos is responsible for 15.14 percent of project costs equating to approximately $64 million.   

Proposed Sewer Rate Increases for Residential Customers

Effective Date:     Current       July 1, 2013        July 1, 2014         July 1, 2015
     
Annual charge per residential dwelling unit
                         $637.00       $807.46                $968.95              $1,065.85 

Equivalent Cost per Day
                         $1.75            $2.11                   $2.65                   $2.92

Equivalent Cost per Month
                         $53.10        $67.29                   $67.29                 $88.82    

Previously, the city identified approximately $10 million of sewer system capacity improvements needed over the next five years (through 2017/18) to prevent overflows and meet requirements of a legal settlement with San Francisco Baykeeper. These costs were addressed last year during hearings that resulted in a six percent rate increase in all categories.   

The San Carlos City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. in San Carlos City Hall, 600 Elm St. To view the agenda and staff reports, click here.