Sierra Madre OKs Increases in Water and Sewer Rates

Water and sewer rates will increase for Sierra Madre residents under a revised fee schedule approved by the City Council last week.

The increases mean that an average resident using 4,000 cubic feet of water monthly will pay $33.60 per two-month billing period, up from $29.40.

Sewer fees will be increased more substantially, however. Now $1 every two months, they will rise to $10 each billing period.

The new rates, which will give the city $365,000 in additional revenue this year, were devised to meet the costs of providing water and sewer services to residents.

The cost of water, now 61 cents per 100 cubic feet, will go up by 16 cents per 100 cubic feet over the next three years. (There are 748 gallons in 100 cubic feet of water.) An eight-cent increase will be imposed this year, followed by four-cent increases each of the next two years. In addition, current service charges of $5 or $6, depending on pipe connection size, will be increased by $1 this year and $1 next year. The service charges are assessed every two-month billing period.