Proposed Sewer Service Charge Rate Increase
LA Sanitation is conducting public outreach efforts to inform communities across Los Angeles about the proposed Sewer Service Charge rate increase. We would like to give constituents a chance to ask questions and get information on available funding assistance for those in need.
Residents should start seeing outreach mailers in their mailboxes the first week of July. These mailers will contain information about two upcoming Zoom webinars about proposed sewer rate increases. The first webinar will be on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 9:30 A.M., and the second webinar will be on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 6:00 P.M.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSED INCREASED SEWER RATES
The City is proposing to resume Sewer Service Charge rate increases that were paused in 2020 because of the pandemic. This is necessary to protect Angelenos’ public health and the environment. Please know that assistance will be available for households in need.
Necessary Action Now
Steady increases in Sewer Service Charge rates were paused in 2020 because of the pandemic. Following a 45-day public input period this coming summer, they will resume in fall 2024 to continue building infrastructure projects to protect public health and our environment, which includes waterways, beaches, and the ocean.
Protecting Public Health and the Environment
Your rate goes toward protecting Angelenos’ health and the environment by making upgrades and repairs to LA’s aging wastewater system and its reclamation plants. This is the system that safely removes wastewater from your homes, businesses, schools, and community facilities and transports it to where it is processed, cleaned, and repurposed at LA’s four reclamation plants. Many pipelines need to be repaired or replaced, and improvement projects for the sewers and treatment facilities are underway to continue making sure we have clean water and that we are safeguarding our environment, including our waterways, beaches, and ocean.
Assistance For Households in Need
We know that many households are still in need. There is financial assistance available for Angelenos. You and your household may be eligible for financial assistance to offset the impacts. The City currently offers financial assistance for the Sewer Service Charge to households in need through the EZ-SAVE Program. This assistance will continue for eligible households. You will also be able to pay your bill monthly instead of bimonthly, and this option is available to all ratepayers through the Level-Pay Program – there is no income eligibility requirement. To find out if you are eligible for the EZ-SAVE program or to change your billing schedule through the Level-Pay program, visit: https://www.ladwp.com/financialassistance
More Information About Proposed Rates and LA Sanitation’s Bill Calculator
Your future sewer bills depend on the adopted rates as well as how much water you use. You can use our bill calculator to estimate your future sewer bills based on the amount of water used shown on your last LADWP utility bill. Visit https://www.lacitysan.org/rates to find the bill calculator.
If you’d like to learn more, we encourage you to call 1-800-773-2489 or send an email to sansscrates2024@lacity.org. Representatives are available to take your calls about proposed Sewer Service Charge rates on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Responses to emails will be attended to during business hours and provided one business day after your email is received.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
In the next five years, the City will invest in hundreds of projects citywide, with anticipated costs exceeding $3 billion.
Projects will be launched to build, enhance, or replace critical pumping plants that prevent sewage overflows.
Modernizing the North Outfall Sewer – the backbone of LA’s 6,700-mile sewer system – will be completed after two decades of construction projects, ensuring its service for generations to come.
Water reclamation plants will prepare for the resiliency needs for the future of Los Angeles. For more information, visit https://www.lacitysan.org/rates