press release

December 23, 2004

RATE INCREASE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1
New rate schedule approved by Governing Board

An overall rate increase of 5.9 percent, approved earlier this year, will become effective January 1, 2005. The increase is primarily due to the higher cost of imported water.

The increase equates to less than 2 cents per hundred gallons of water. Most homeowners will pay less than $3 extra each month (bills are generated every two months).

A portion of the increase is due to a rate increase from the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA). CWA is the region's wholesale agency that imports water from the Colorado River Aqueduct and Northern California. These costs will be itemized in future bills. Another portion is attributed to increased operational costs, which reflects an increase in the cost of living.

Sweetwater Authority's $39 million budget includes operational costs and ongoing capital projects to regularly replace water mains, maintain reservoirs and facilities, and to conduct water quality research. Capital projects, such as a new groundwater well, will secure additional reliable local water.

Detailed rates charts are available at Sweetwater Authority's website (click here).

Sweetwater Authority provides public water service to 177,000 residents of Chula Vista, National City and Bonita.

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