San Juan Capistrano : Water Rate Increase of 12% Approved

City water rates were hiked by an average of 12% this week as part of the new $4.6-million annual budget approved by directors of the Capistrano Valley Water District.

The new rates will mean that the average residential water bill will increase from $25.25 a month to $28.25, according to Jim Widner, administrative services manager. The rates were approved unanimously Tuesday night by the City Council, whose members serve in a dual purpose as the five-member water district board.

“It’s not something I for one enjoy doing,” said City Councilwoman Collene Campbell after voting for the rate increase. “I hope people understand why we’re doing this.”

The rate increase was blamed on the higher cost of water the district buys from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Because the MWD increased its rates by 20% this year, the district was forced to follow suit, said Ray Auerbach, general manager of the Capistrano Valley Water District.

“It’s the cost of MWD water that drives the whole thing,” Auerbach said. “When MWD’s rates stay the same, ours stay the same. When their rates go up, ours do too.”

Only 22% of the Capistrano Valley Water District water comes from local wells; the remaining 78% is imported by pipeline from MWD, Auerbach said. By comparison, other county cities such as Westminster, Fountain Valley and Anaheim, where underground water is more plentiful, get as much as 70% of their water from wells, Auerbach said.

The Capistrano Valley Water District serves about 10,000 customers in San Juan Capistrano and a small part of Dana Point.