November 9th public hearing set on proposed changes to water rates and charges

November 9th public hearing set on proposed changes to water rates and charges

September 30, 2021– Rowland Water District is considering a five-year schedule of changes to water rates and charges needed to maintain current service levels and protect the public’s investment in the delivery system.

The District’s Board of Directors will conduct a public hearing on November 9, 2021, at 5 p.m. to hear comments and vote on the proposed changes. Property owners and customers are encouraged to attend.

A cost-of-service study determined that without a rate adjustment, Rowland Water District faces a $977,000 deficit starting in July 2023. The independent analysis recommended new potable and recycled water commodity charges, fixed service charges, zonal surcharges, fire service charges and drought rates.

“The District is committed to providing the highest level of service at the lowest possible cost for our customers,” Rowland General Manager Tom Coleman said. “The cost of operating the system can change based on our expenses for wholesale water, electricity for pumping and treatment chemicals, all of which have been increasing.”

Details of the changes were included in a Proposition 218 Notice mailed to all customers and parcel owners within the service area. The district also developed a water bill calculator to help customers understand how they might be impacted. If approved, most residential customers would see an increase of less than $2.50 on their monthly bill starting in 2022. The calculator can be found at (https://www.rwd.org/prop-218-notice-of-public-hearing/.

If adopted, the new water rates would take effect on January 1, 2022, and would be adjusted each January 1 through January 1, 2026.

Customers who would like to participate in the public hearing can attend in person at the Rowland Water District offices located at 3021 Fullerton Road in Rowland Heights. Interested parties may also participate virtually via Zoom by visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8759899861 or calling (669) 900-6833 and entering passcode: 8759899861#.