FAQs • Sweetwater Authority, CA • CivicEngage

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Capacity Fee FAQs

1. What is my Capacity Fee based on?: The Capacity Fee is based on projected water use in gallons per day (GPD).

2. How was the current Capacity Fee derived?: All Capacity Fees must follow Government Code section 66000, commonly known as the “Mitigation Fee Act.” The fee is determined in the 2021 Water Capacity Fee Report (Capacity Study) by dividing the total net assets of the Authority’s system by the quantity of equivalent dwelling units (EDUs). The Capacity Study lists the value of total assets, minus debt service, as $280,878,078. This number is divided by 51,178, the number of EDUs in Sweetwater Authority, for a value of $5,490 per EDU.

3. When was the Capacity Fee last changed?: The Capacity Fee last changed in July 2021 and was decreased based on updated fees developed in the 2021 Water Capacity Fee Report.

4. What is an EDU?: An Equivalent Dwelling Unit, or EDU, is a unit that relates all residential, commercial, and industrial water use to a typical single-family residential unit.

A table showing the average use in the service area at the time the last Capacity Fee study was completed (2021) is presented below.

6. I’m building a new home. What will my Capacity Fee be?: The current Capacity Fee for a single-family residence is $5,490.

7. I’m building a new home with an accessory unit, but only want 1 water service. What will my Capacity Fee be?: An ADU added to the site of an existing or proposed single-family dwelling shall be charged an Authority capacity fee that is proportional to the burden of the proposed ADU based upon the number of its fixture units.

8. I’m adding an accessory dwelling unit to an existing single family residence. What will my Capacity Fee be?: The Capacity Fee for the accessory dwelling unit will be proportional to the burden of the proposed ADU based upon the number of its fixture units unless it meets any of the exemptions listed in the Authority’ Rates and Rules.

9. Do I still need to furnish plumbing fixture unit count with my plan submittal to Sweetwater Authority since you charge Capacity Fees based on gallons per day?: Yes. The plumbing fixture unit count is necessary to verify service lateral and meter sizes.

10. I’m constructing a 10 unit condominium project on a vacant parcel. What will my Capacity Fee be?: The Capacity Fee will be $5,490 x 56% x 10 EDUs = $30,744.

11. I’m redeveloping a Single Family Dwelling into a 4-unit attached townhouse with a separate irrigation meter, using the existing water service for irrigation. What will my Capacity Fee be?: The Capacity Fee will be $5,490 x 56% x 4 EDUs = $12,298 for the 4 units, $5,490 for the irrigation service, less a credit of $5,490 for the existing dwelling unit, which will be reclassified as an irrigation meter. The total Capacity Fee will therefore be $12,298.

12. I have 2 existing residences in a duplex on my property currently being served by a single water meter, and plan to add another water meter so each house can be billed separately. Is there a fee?: There is no Capacity Fee. The Capacity Fee only applies to new demand on the water system.

13. How will the Capacity Fee be determined for commercial buildings?: The projected demand (in gallons per day) as provided by the owner/developer is divided by 297 gallons per day to establish the number of equivalent dwelling units (EDUs). The resulting number of EDUs is then multiplied by the base Capacity Fee of $5,490 to determine the total Capacity Fee for the projected demand. In the absence of a projected demand, the Authority can use historical data to estimate demand based on water use type.