Your water and sewer rates keeping pace
Western continues to explore rate adjustments
A cost-of-service analysis of Western's current rates has indicated a need for increased rates to respond to the increasing costs of:
  • Purchasing imported and local water supplies.
  • Complying with state-mandated drinking water regulatory requirements.
  • Treating wastewater.
  • Maintaining and operating the production, distribution and collection systems to and from your property.
Board of Directors to host a public meeting on April 7

During Western’s regularly scheduled public board meeting on Wednesday, April 7 at 9:30 a.m., the Board of Directors will consider setting a water and sewer rates Public Hearing in June.

To make sure the public is adequately informed and customers have the opportunity to get questions answered, Western’s staff will also host a series of virtual customer information sessions in April.

Should the Board move forward with considering the proposed rate adjustment, a formal Public Hearing to make a decision will be scheduled for Wednesday, June 2 at 6 p.m. 

To view past workshop materials and recordings, or to learn more about the proposal and upcoming meeting dates, visit wmwd.com/2021ProposedRates.

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How will this affect my bill?
A median monthly residential rate increase of 2.1 to 3.5 percent is being proposed and could take effect with bills issued on or after July 1, 2021, with a modest increase every year for an additional three years. The change amounts to an average monthly residential bill increase of approximately $2.33 to $3.90. 
 
Rates that keep pace with the rising costs of services are essential for Western to continue providing safe, reliable, high-quality water and wastewater (sewer) services, now and into the future. Moving forward with the adjustment now will also help avoid higher increases in the future.

What is Western doing to control costs?
Western works 24/7 to make sure you have safe, reliable, high-quality water and wastewater (sewer) services just when you need them. Western is always looking for ways to control costs by:  

  • Improving access to local groundwater through agreements with Riverside Public Utilities (RPU), Eastern Municipal Water District, and Elsinore Valley Municipal water districts.  


  • Controlling labor costs where employees are paying for a larger share of their retirement costs and Western does not anticipate seeking approval to add any newly budgeted positions. Additionally, Western negotiated lower premiums by 33 percent on employer-provided benefits.

  • Enhancing operational efficiencies by implementing 14 different projects that have created an annual savings of more than $1.2 million, which is essential to keeping rates as low as possible.  

  • Securing grant funding by enhancing our grant procurement efforts and seeking grant dollars to support critical projects, which lower the financial impact for our customers. In the last five years, Western has been awarded more than $27 million to support major system improvements to increase reliability and give customers more control of their water use.  
Unable to attend the Board meeting?
For anyone unable to attend the April 7 public board meeting and wishing to participate, you can submit written comment by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, by visiting our website or emailing the board secretary.

Following the meeting, a recording will be posted on Western's website. To get notified of future customer information sessions and community meeting presentations, subscribe to “2021 Proposed Rate Adjustment” notifications.

Please join us in securing your water future!