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# Don’t flush money down the toilet
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dont-flush-money-down-the-toilet/
- Published: 2007-05-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:43:47.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Water rates may increase if City Council decides to up fees*

CITYWIDE Whether it’s flushing the toilet, watering the lawn or drawing a relaxing bath amid an array of aroma therapy candles, it’ll likely cost more in the near future.

Just how much more remains unclear, as City Council considers hiking water rates to make up for a projected budget deficit in 2009.

Elected officials are mulling several options ranging from a modest increase to match inflation to a more drastic approach that would raise rates for single-family homes by as much as 15 percent for water and 33 percent for wastewater.

To offset the increase and encourage users to conserve, city staff is recommending a new rate structure for both water and wastewater, as well as eliminating a fixed, bimonthly service charge so that residents and property owners would be billed only for the water they use. If approved, those who conserve or go on vacation could see a savings.

The council is expected to decide on a financial strategy in the coming months as it drafts its budget for the next fiscal year.

“We think that is a real positive move,” said Gil Borboa, water resources manager for City Hall.

There has not been a significant water and wastewater rate increase since 1996, according to Borboa.

There were no rate changes in 1997 or 1998\. In 1999, a resolution to annually increase rates by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase was adopted and has been used in each subsequent budget.

The lack of a significant increase has played a role in the inability to maintain enterprise funds that are self sufficient, Borboa said, as has the increase in labor and construction costs and the price of imported water.

> “Conserving can translate into a significant cost savings.”

A water rate study found that financial obligations over the next five years will exceed revenues if rates are increased at current levels.

Under one option being considered, rate payers would see an increase of 11 percent over the next five years. Reserves would be used to stabilize the fund until the final year.

That would result in an increase of $4.21 every two months for the average single-family home, for a total of $74.21 during the first year. By comparison, families in Culver City pay, on average, $105.81 every two months, while those in Burbank pay $71.30.

Under the “pay as you go” financial strategy for wastewater in which no debt would be issued and all capital improvements would be funded solely through rate adjustments and available cash, rates could rise as much as 30 percent for single-family homes, or roughly $13 every two months.

Currently, the average single family home pays $41.37 for wastewater services. Under pay as you go, that would increase to $55.34 for the first year.

Naturally, some residents weren’t happy to hear their household expenses would be increasing, especially seniors who are living on a fixed income.

“Unfortunately, a lot of these cost increases are driven by what is happening outside of the city of Santa Monica because we are billed by Los Angeles for wastewater and because of MTBE contamination,” said Mayor Richard Bloom. “The objective is to recoup the cost in the least painful way for rate payers and that is what we intend to do.”

Santa Monica imports drinking water from the Metropolitan Water District because wells here have been contaminated by the fuel additive MTBE. Under a $131 million settlement agreement with three major oil companies, City Hall has been able to pay for the imported water without having to reach into its general fund, however, most of that money will be used to build a water treatment plant to clean the existing wells, Borboa said.

Once the water in the wells is cleared for distribution, rate payers could see some savings, but that is not expected for several years. Construction on the treatment plant is scheduled to begin by the end of 2008 or early 2009.

While rising costs have created a need for an increase, so has the council’s decision to stick with CPI since 1999\. The same goes for bus fares and trash rates, both of which are going up to maintain proper reserves to guard against an emergency.

“The conundrum is by deferring the pain, you only compound the problem,” Bloom said. “It’s no different than having a credit cart with high interest rates. It’s time to pay that bill, but do it in the most responsible way that is manageable for most people who use these services.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/051007-01_01.jpg)

(Photo: Photo courtesy Mark Mendenhall)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 10, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051007.pdf?ref=smdp.com)