Water flowing from a kitchen sink tap. The federal government under President Donald Trump has paused new regulations governing PFAS, so-called ‘forever chemicals,’ and has also frozen funding for a number of environmental projects. Fayetteville and Cumberland County are among places that have been impacted.
San Diego, California – San Diego’s Public Utilities Department is proposing sweeping increases to water and wastewater rates that could raise bills for many households by more than 60% over the next four years. The plan, which received a unanimous vote from the City Council’s Environment Committee this week, is now headed for full council consideration and has already stirred concerns among residents and city leaders alike.
If approved, the rate increases would begin in January 2026 and continue annually through 2029. By the end of the period, water rates would climb just over 62%, while sewer rates would rise by 31%. For the average single-family household, the combined monthly bill could reach approximately $180.
The Public Utilities Department cites a range of economic pressures as justification for the hikes: rising costs of imported water, energy, chemicals, labor, and major infrastructure projects. Officials argued that without these planned increases, the city would be forced to implement even more dramatic adjustments, potentially up to 35% higher, to maintain and modernize the water system.
The proposal impacts not just San Diego proper but surrounding service areas including Coronado and Imperial Beach, making it a regional issue with broad implications for homeowners.
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, chair of the Environment Committee, offered qualified support for advancing the proposal while making it clear he was not yet committed to a final vote. “This isn’t a commitment to vote ‘yes’ when it gets to the full council,” he said. “I need to be fully convinced ratepayers are being presented with the lowest possible rate. And I’m not convinced of that yet.”
The skepticism isn’t limited to City Hall. Hillcrest homeowner Roy Dahl said he’s still frustrated by the council’s decision earlier this year to begin charging property owners for trash collection starting in 2026. “They’re not watching the dollars correctly, as far as I’m concerned,” Dahl said. “They need to be smarter about the way they run the government, that’s all.”
The city has already approved previous water and sewer rate increases in recent years, which makes this latest proposal especially contentious among residents struggling with high housing and utility costs. One woman who spoke to CBS8 summed up a common refrain: “It’s already so expensive here.”
The full City Council will consider the plan in a meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon. A final public hearing is set for September 30, after which the council could vote to implement the rate hikes beginning in January 2026. Until then, the debate continues over how to balance rising infrastructure costs with the affordability challenges facing San Diego’s residents.
