Regional Sewage Costs Go Up

Pleasanton residents will pay more in district fees for sewage services and connections.

Pleasanton's city councilmembers on Tuesday night approved a $461 hike in sewage connection fees that begins Aug. 1.  The city was obligated to push the increase forward under its contract with the Dublin San Ramon Services District, according to Daniel Smith, Pleasanton's operations services director.

The fee is applied to any new home or business connecting to the city's sewage lines, Smith said.

"Though we were contractually obligated go with the district's decision to raise the connection fee, we told [DSRSD] that we're not happy with any increase to any rate because of the current economy," Smith said. "Passing hikes onto customers is hard for them, and we think this is a bad time to do it."

The fee hike will go toward two specific projects: the expansion of the treatment plant on Johnson Drive and the Livermore Amador Valley Water Management Agency's pipeline facilities that transport treated wastewater to the San Francisco Bay.

A consulting firm hired by DSRSD in 2009 found that higher fees from new developments were needed to effectively fund facility expansion.  The firm's study (see attached report) was presented to district officials who approved the increase at a June 15 meeting.  Pleasanton's contract with DSRSD obligates the city to meet district rate increases within 60 days, spurring last night's council vote, Smith said.

Also  on Tuesday, the Dublin San Ramon Services District voted to increase its bimonthly fee after holding a public meeting attended by more than 40 people. Smith said some department staff members attended the meeting to protest the fee hike.

Pleasanton residents' sewage bills are divided into local fees paid to the city and regional fees paid to DSRSD, according to Smith.

Last night's district vote puts DSRSD a step closer to increasing the regional fee.  If approved by a vote of trustees later this year, the rate increase would take effect Jan. 1, 2011. A resident would then pay about $3 more a month (see chart).

"We have been pleased that local rates have remained relatively steady but are still worried about how regional rates impact our residents," said Smith, who added that Pleasanton will receive no income from the district fee hike. "We've been vocal to DSRSD about the need to keep costs down and we've obviously only had limited success."