SRRRA Sewer Rate Adjustment

Upcoming sewer rate adjustment for Murrieta customers 
Effective for all bills issued on or after Dec. 1, 2023

SRRRA_Sewer RatesWestern Water is passing through a necessary rate adjustment to its Murrieta sewer customers due to increased charges imposed by the Santa Rosa Regional Resources Authority (SRRRA) sewage treatment facility. SRRRA is one of the third-party sewer treatment providers Western Water uses to serve its Murrieta customers.

Starting with bills issued on or after Dec. 1, 2023, certain Western Water customers in Murrieta will notice a monthly sewer rate increase of $2.87 per residence (or per Equivalent Dwelling Unit* for commercial customers). This change primarily addresses the unanticipated escalating labor and energy costs essential for sewage treated by SRRRA.

We want to assure you that our primary goal remains to ensure that all Western Water customers in the Murrieta service area continue to benefit from high-quality and dependable sewer service.

Background

The sewage from most of Western Water customers in Murrieta is sent to the SRRRA treatment facility. When setting multi-year sewer rates in 2021, Western Water had to estimate future treatment costs from SRRRA. However, in June 2023, the rates adopted by SRRRA's Board of Directors exceeded our projections, primarily due to rising energy and labor costs. Unfortunately, Western Water does not have control over these costs, which are established by SRRRA’s board based on budgeted operating costs.  All revenues collected through sewer rates are used to cover costs needed to provide reliable sewer service within the Murrieta service area.

Western Water's board approved the authority to pass through these rising costs to our customers during the rate adoption process in 2021, as is allowed by California law.

What does this mean for you?

Starting Dec. 1, 2023, customer sewer rates per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU)* per month will increase by $2.87. 

 *One EDU represents the sewer quantity an average single-family residential customer contributes to the sewer system. Our commercial customers are assigned EDUs based on their anticipated peak sewer flows in comparison to an average single-family residential customer.

Rate per EDU per MonthCurrent RateRate Effective
December 1, 2023
Difference
Murrieta Sewer Service Area – SRRRA Sewer Treatment Facility$44.01$46.88$2.87

Frequently Asked Questions

Although multi-year sewer rates were adopted in 2021, the July 1, 2023, rate is no longer sufficient to cover rising costs from Western Water’s third-party sewer treatment provider in Murrieta. There are several factors that affect sewer rates, including rising labor costs and increasing energy expenses needed for sewer treatment. In June 2023, SRRRA determined that their current rates charged to Western Water were insufficient to cover the expenses of providing sewer services. The adjusted costs from SRRRA came in higher than Western Water anticipated during the 2021 rate adoption process, and in fall 2023, Western Water identified a need for a sewer rate increase to ensure financial stability and the ability to continue providing high-quality sewer services. These updated changes now accurately represent your sewer collection and treatment costs.

Why a rate adjustment is needed for SRRRA?

SRRRA_Webpage Icons

Murrieta Service Area Map

Western_LAFCO Murrieta Study Area

Rate Adjustment Postcard - Mailing on Oct. 30, 2023

WMWD_SewerRateIncrease_Postcard_FINAL V3

For more information

Call us for more information at 951.571.7104

Email us at outreach@wmwd.com