Here’s how much your Otay Water bill is going up next year

Some East County residents can expect even pricier bills due to higher sewer rates that the Otay Water District approved earlier this month.

Board members unanimously approved gradually increasing sewer rates over a five-year period for nearly 5,000 of its customers. Next year’s hike takes effect in January and will raise the cost of sewer service by about 4%, though increases in subsequent years could reach nearly 10%.

Right now, the average single-family residential customer pays about $20 a month for sewer system charges. By 2030, that household will pay roughly $30. If inflation is higher than projected, residents could pay even more.

The hike does not affect all Otay Water customers, as some do not receive sewer services from the agency.

Otay Water officials say the new rates are necessary to cover anticipated rising costs for sewage treatment, as well as increases in payroll and construction costs.

Their decision comes just a few months after the district notified residents of an additional increase to their bills: Water rates will go up by about 8% in January, with the agency citing costs passed down from its wholesale suppliers.

Mark Robak, an Otay Water board member, said the agency still has some of the lowest rates in the county.

“There’s no stone unturned, we’re looking for efficiencies,” he said during the Oct. 1 meeting. “The way we’ve come up with our matrix in terms of charges is fair and equitable.” 

Otay Water serves about 240,000 residents in Otay Mesa, eastern Chula Vista, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego and unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa.

Correction, 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16: This story was updated to clarify that only a small portion of Otay Water customers will receive the sewer rate increase, as not all customers within the service area receive sewer services from the agency.