SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego City Council voted to table the conversation on increasing water rates until Tuesday, Oct. 28.
If approved, water rates would increase by more than 60 percent in the city, but councilmembers Kent Lee and Stephen Whitburn who spoke Tuesday were against the hike, along with the more than 30 people who spoke out during public comment.
“It feels tough, you know a lot of us are just struggling to survive at the end of the day, a lot of people working 2 or 3 jobs, but when water, and rent, and food electricity, all go up… the cost of clothing, the cost of school… it’s tough,” said Hannah Cano with Workers Benefit Council of San Diego.
Along with the water increase if approved, a 30 percent increase for wastewater rates is also on the table. The city said the reason, is because their price to purchase and provide water for residents is increasing.
The increase would be gradual, if approved, over the next four years, beginning in January 2026. The city believes a typical single family home’s bill would increase by $17.30 in January 2026, $16.88 in January 2027, $15.37 in January 2028 and then another $16.36 in January 2029.
“And its already such an expensive place to live,” Jan McNamara said that one charge of $50 may not seem like a lot, but each charge adds up quick.
“That would not be affordable, it wouldn’t be possible,” Cano added.
Water or wastewater rates have gone up in San Diego every year since 2021, with a total 27 percent increase in the last four years. If this is approved, it would be an additional 62 percent increase, totaling an 89 percent rise in San Diego’s rates in an 8-year span.
“I’m not happy about it since they’ve already had two rate increases, they raised it in January they raised it again in May, they raised our sewer rates I just think they mismanaged the money in San Diego and they are coming after the voters and residents to make up for it,” McNamara added.
The city council is set to vote on the increase during its meeting on October 28.
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