CHULA VISTA, CA – Sweetwater Authority customers now pay the lowest water rates among all water agencies in San Diego County, reinforcing the agency’s longstanding commitment to affordability and local water reliability. This comes after comparing rates across water agencies, with the Sweetwater Authority customers’ average monthly bill at $71.98.
Sweetwater Authority is unique among water agencies in San Diego due to its abundant local water supply. Sweetwater Authority obtains water from the Sweetwater River, which is then stored at the Sweetwater Reservoir and subsequently treated at the Perdue Treatment Plant, as well as from the Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility. Sweetwater Authority maximizes current resources to reduce dependence on expensive imported water from the San Diego County Water Authority, benefiting our customers.
In addition to careful resource management, Sweetwater Authority has actively pursued outside funding to offset infrastructure costs. In the federal budgets of FY2024 and FY2026, the agency secured $967,000 and $1,000,000, respectively, through U.S. Representative Juan Vargas’ Community Project Funding requests, and a $1,530,000 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The funding helps reduce the total capital investment from Sweetwater Authority, saving customers money.
“Having the lowest water rates in the county does not happen by accident. This is a result of years of prudent fiscal stewardship and strategic decision making,” said Chair Ditas Yamane. “Every action and investment made by the Governing Board and our management has been to fulfill our mission statement of providing safe and reliable water at the most affordable rates.”
Sweetwater Authority serves nearly 200,000 residents in West Chula Vista, National City, and Bonita. About 65% of Sweetwater Authority’s service area is considered historically disadvantaged. In 2024, the Governing Board approved the Water Affordability Program to assist customers who are facing financial hardship in paying their water bills.
Additional information about Sweetwater Authority’s water rates, local water supplies, and customer assistance programs is available at Sweetwater Authority’s website.