Politics & Government

Redwood City May Raise Water Rates

City government officials to consider new water and sewage fees.

Redwood City residents may see a nine percent increase on their water bills this year, if City Council approves new rates. 

The increased fees for water and sewer service would take effect on August 1, 2013, if approved. This action would also trigger an annual rate increase. 

The amount of the increase depends on how much water a household uses. A typical household uses about 10 units of water every two months, according to Malcolm Smith, City of Redwood City communications manager. A unit is 748 gallons, Smith said. 

A typical household could see an increase of $3.33 per month in 2013, $3.60 per month in 2014, and $3.91 per month in 2015.

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Sewer fees would also increase. A sewer bill for the average household would increase by $5.21 per month in 2013, $5.68 in 2014, and $6.18 in 2015, if approved.

Funds from this increase are slated for a pool of money that will be used to offset Redwood City’s share of improvements to the water distribution system. Redwood City buys its water from the Hetch Hetchy regional water system, which is managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

An estimated $4.6 billion worth of work is on the line.

Find out what's happening in Redwood City-Woodsidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The purpose of those upgrades is to ensure seismic and delivery reliability, and meet water quality requirements, and meet water supply goals,” Smith said in a statement. 

Redwood City will be hosting an informational meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, in the city’s Public Works building, located at 1400 Broadway. 

A public hearing about the event will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 10, in City Hall, located at 1017 Middlefield Road.  


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