Monterey Park : Council Hikes Water Rates

Water rates for residents will go up beginning Oct. 25, after the City Council’s decision this week to approve the increases.

Under an ordinance the council adopted by a 3-2 vote Monday, rate hikes would vary between 2.6% to 22.8%, depending on how much water a customer uses.

For example, a typical single-family home, which uses 11,968 gallons of water a month, would pay $11.34, an increase of $1.28. The new rates are designed to encourage water conservation, said Public Works Director Nels Palm. If the family cuts back water use by 10%, its bill would increase by only 11 cents a month, Palm said.

Councilman Christopher Houseman, who cast one of the two dissenting votes, said he believes the “rates are going to be quite a burden on all the users.” He said developers should be charged more for building projects that create additional demand on the city’s water supply.

Councilman Barry Hatch said he voted against the rate hikes as a protest against the council’s recent votes on density changes, which he said are not enough to control growth.