Upland to hold two workshops on proposed water rate increases

UPLAND, Calif. – The City of Upland will conduct two workshops in the coming days to review proposed increases in water rates.

The workshops will be held Monday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 7, at 10 a.m. Both workshops will be held in the Upland City Council Chambers, 460 N. Euclid Ave.

The city is proposing water rate increases to fund necessary improvements to the city’s water infrastructure, offset rising costs passed down from its providers and ensure the safety and sustainability of its water system into the future.

In addition to the workshops, a public hearing on the proposed rate increases will be held Monday, April 23, at 7 p.m. in the Council chambers.

More information on Upland’s water system is available at the city’s website, ci.upland.ca.us.

Below are answers some frequently asked questions regarding the proposed increase:

Why do water rates need to increase?

Upland is at a critical point with regard to its water system, the safety and stability of its water infrastructure and the rising cost of securing water from its providers – notably, the San Antonio Water Company (SAWCo) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). In simplest terms, its water rates as currently structured do not provide the revenues to meet the needs of the community.

What if rates are not increased?

The water utility is self-funded, meaning that revenues must equal expenditures if it is to remain viable. Not raising rates would:

How do Upland’s rates compare with neighboring agencies?

Even with the proposed rate adjustments through the five-year planning window, Upland will have generally lower water rates than neighboring agencies such as Cucamonga Valley Water District (serving predominantly the Rancho Cucamonga area), Monte Vista Water District (serving the Montclair area), the City of Ontario and Golden State Water Company (serving the Claremont area).