‘Painful but necessary’: San Dieguito Water District to hike water prices

ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — If you’re under the San Dieguito Water District, your water rates will increase by mid-summer following a unanimous board vote Wednesday evening.

Despite approval across the board, board member and Encinitas Mayor called the move one both “painful, but necessary.”

Starting July 1, water rates will go up 9 percent, then up to 12 percent for the next fiscal year running from 2025 to 2026. Prices will go up again in the following fiscal year starting in 2026.

“As I say, it’s up to. We will reconsider that 12 percent next year when we see where the finances actually are next year,” said San Dieguito Water District Board Member, Bruce Ehlers.

So why raise the rates?

The water district says post-COVID inflation, especially electricity costs, have been on the rise. “The cost of water is based upon the amount of capital and sunk expenses,” Ehlers said.

Officials also say the loss of locally sourced water from Lake Hodges Dam is to blame. It is the district’s cheapest water source and severely limited due to structural issues at the dam, meaning rate payers are having to pay extra to purchase water replacing locally-stored water.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which services much of the state’s southern region, is also raising rates up 17 percent over the next two years, with an initial increase of 8.5 percent in the new year.

It’s a trickle affect that seeps higher costs into other parts of San Diego County like Oceanside and Escondido.

“The reason they’re doing that is because we were so good at conserving water,” said economist Dr. Alan Gin.

Following heavy rain that drenched the state in the past two years, Californians did as they were told and protected that water. So, while the grass is green, some pockets are empty.

“Because of that the revenue that the Metropolitan Water District is taking in declined, and so with their cost going up, they now have to charge customers more,” said Gin.

More information on the rate hike at the San Dieguito Water District can be found on the city of Encinitas’ website here.

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