Starting on July 1, 2023, Ventura Water customers will see water and wastewater rate adjustments reflected on their monthly billing cycles. These forthcoming rate adjustments signify year three of the five-year increases that were approved by the City Council on May 17, 2021.
Rate increases support both daily operation and maintenance of the City’s existing water and wastewater systems, along with approximately 36 planned capital improvement projects, including the long-anticipated State Water Interconnection Project and VenturaWaterPure Program.
City staff collaborated with the Water Commission and a third-party financial consultant to conduct an exhaustive water and wastewater rate to assess the City’s water rate tiers, water shortage rates, wastewater rate structure, and financing alternatives for significant projects.
The study’s findings revealed the necessity for an average annual rate increase of seven percent for water service and six percent for wastewater service. These rate adjustments are essential to maintain the ongoing operation and maintenance of the systems, address infrastructure concerns, ensure a secure water supply, improve water quality, and meet necessary legal and environmental regulations.
Leading up to City Council’s decision, Ventura Water conducted over 20 community presentations and hosted several virtual town hall meetings where information about anticipated rate impacts was shared with community members, neighborhood groups, clubs, businesses, and economic development stakeholders.
For more information, or to see a comparison between old and new rates, please visit www.venturawaterrates.net.
