Rate Hike Proposed For Fremont Residents

FREMONT, CA — Union Sanitary District has proposed a rate increase over the next five years to fund capital projects.

The sanitary district operates a 33-acre wastewater treatment facility in Union City and provides collection, treatment, and disposal services to Fremont, Newark, and Union City. The district also maintains over 839 miles of underground pipeline, and 7 pump stations.

If approved, the rate hike will take effect in July and will increase bills on single family homes in Fremont by $33 to $41 each year. Currently, the annual bill for the majority of families with single-family homes is $421.37.

“USD’s current rates are at the lower end of 35 Bay Area wastewater service providers surveyed, yet we provide some of the most extensive services,” said General Manager Paul Eldredge. “The District strives to provide reliable, essential service as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. Even with the proposed increases, USD’s rates would remain well below many of those of other agencies.”

The district estimates that delaying an increase by a single year would raise costs an additional $12.5 million.

“The District is very sensitive to everything transpiring in the world right now, and understands that a wastewater service increase may add further worry,” said Eldredge. “After carefully considering the impacts of postponing the increase, it became very clear that any delay would result in higher costs to customers and could severely impact the District’s operations in the years ahead.”

The improvements will be completed over a 10 year period. The total cost of the capital improvement program is $644,350,000.

“It’s important to consider that construction of these facilities takes several years, and there are substantial savings by proceeding now versus delaying these important projects,” noted Eldredge. “These infrastructure investments are necessary in order to maintain safe, reliable operations that comply with regulatory requirements and protect public health and the environment.”

USD collects, treats, and returns to the environment an average of 24 million gallons of wastewater daily.

“The District will continue to seek cost saving and other measures to keep increases as low as possible,” said Eldredge.

A Virtual Community Information Meeting was held Tuesday night.