Leelo en español abajo.
The city is required by its Home Rule Charter to set rates based on the annual cost to operate its water and sewer systems. Rates are also set to be “equitable” meaning that each class of customer is paying its fair share of the costs (no more, and no less) according to their impact to the system. No taxes are used to fund water and sewer projects or operations.
City Council approves rates on a two year schedule and approved rate increases for 2019 and 2020 in 2018. City Council will consider rates for 2021 and 2022 in 2020. There will be plenty of opportunities for the public to review and comment on the proposed rates before City Council votes on them.
Westminster City Council on Monday, October 8, 2018, approved by a 4-1 vote an increase in water and sewer rates and tap fees for 2019-20 to fund critical needs in our water and sewer system. Councillor Dave DeMott voted no; Mayor Pro Tem Maria De Cambra is absent on maternity leave and Councillor Kathryn Skulley was absent on business.
The following provides information on the proposal, its impact on utility bills and how it will help the city deliver on its commitment to provide safe, reliable water and sewer service to residents and businesses.
water News/projects
Residential Customers
Commercial Customers
HOA/School/Church Customers
The need: an aging system
As with most cities, an annual water rate increase is necessary to continue to provide safe and healthy drinking water for our residents.
The water and sewer rate increases for 2019 and 2020 are driven by the age and condition of our utility system. Revenues will be predominately spent on taking care of specific infrastructure that has already shown signs of failure or reached the end of its useful life.
The rate increases will be more significant than past years to fund critical needs, including:
- Funding the rising cost of maintenance and repairs to our aging infrastructure. This includes pipes, pumps, tanks, chemicals, repair parts and equipment.
- Replacing the aging Semper Water Treatment Facility to ensure high-quality drinking water for our community now and into the future. Learn more about the Water2025 project.
- Funding critical improvements to the Big Dry Creek Interceptor Sewer, primarily to deal with known age and condition concerns while also addressing capacity within the sewer system.
The increases are the result of a year-long study and reflect the demands of operating and investing in a $4 billion infrastructure system that provides safe, high quality, compliant and reliable water and sewer services to customers. Such a study had not been performed since 2006, and it clearly revealed that rates and fees were not keeping pace with infrastructure needs.
Water Bill Assistance Program
We recognize that any increase in a utility bill, no matter how small, can have a large impact on people living on fixed incomes or those who struggle to pay even basic bills. In response, the city has for more than a year provided assistance to help pay bills.
Get complete details on the Water Bill Assistance Program.
Water Conservation
Water conservation is a great way to spend less on water.
- Replace your toilets with the most water efficient “WaterSense” labeled toilets. They don’t cost any more money and could reduce your toilet’s use by 20 percent or more on each flush. Your toilet is the largest water user in your home, so there are big savings to achieve.
- Outdoor irrigation accounts for about half of a household’s total water consumption annually, so reductions there pay big dividends.
- Check out the Water Conservation webpage, which offers free sprinkler consultations and Garden In A Box discounts.
- Transform your lawn into a water-smart landscape; replace thirsty grass with low-water turf, plants, trees and shrubs.
- Recycle the rain; use rain barrels to collect precipitation and reuse it outdoors.