Port Hueneme City Council OKs 171% Water Rate Increase Effective June 1

PORT HUENEME — The City Council has voted unanimously to approve a 171% hike in water rates.

The new monthly water rates, which will rise from $11 per household to nearly $30, will take effect June 1. Along with the new rates comes improved water from a new desalination plant and delivery line from Calleguas Municipal Water District.

Opponents had vowed to protest, but only one person spoke in opposition at the Wednesday night meeting, City Clerk Karen Jackson said.

“We feel a positive overall approval of the hike,” she said. “We received only five protests over the last 45 days.”

Jackson added that use of water softeners and bottled water in the water district is expected to drop.

Although she did not speak at the council meeting, Vickie Finan, president of the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District, said she wasn’t surprised the rate hike passed. Rates for residents in the Channel Islands district also will rise.

“The city’s new treatment plan is very expensive--the most expensive way to take care of this water,” Finan said. “To filter everything to Sparkletts drinking water quality doesn’t make sense, as most of it isn’t drunk.”