Council Approves Sewer Rate Hike

Sewer charges in Los Angeles will rise 77 percent over a decade under a plan approved Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council.

The 13-0 vote means the city will be able to raise nearly $2 billion to repair over 6,400 miles of aging sewer lines as well as make other capital improvements to the sewer system.

"There is never a good time to raise rates,'' City Councilman Tony Cardenas said Wednesday, but he called the increases "modest'' relative to needed infrastructure improvements.

Under the plan, the city would raise fees by 4.5 percent a year from 2012 to 2015, and an additional 6.5 percent in 2016 and 2017.

For an average family, it means a current $30 bill will increase to more than $53 after 10 years.

About 2260 miles of the city's sewer pipes are 80-years-old and near the end of their lifespan, according to Councilman Cardenas' office.

General Manager Enrique Zaldivar called the outlook for the city's sewer system "very bleak" unless more money was allocated. Emergency repairs can cost up to seven times as much as preventative maintenance, he said.

Council members thanked the bureau for explaining the need for rate increases to the public, noting the lack of opposition to the increases during the council meeting.

The bureau held close to 70 outreach meetings over the past three months with neighborhood councils, chambers of commerce and other community groups in an attempt to win support for rate increases. Zaldivar told the council the department received very positive feedback.

The proposed rate increase also would create a fund to help property owners fix sewer line breaks between the home and the main line. Replacing lines on private property can cost up to about $20,000 in some cases.

 

Follow USA LOCAL NEWS for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @USA LOCAL NEWS // Facebook: USA LOCAL NEWS