Water rates going up for some in LA in 2022

The increase was approved back in September, but LADWP officials say the wet weather last week hasn't changed how serious drought conditions in the city are.

LOS ANGELES - Water rates are going up this year for some Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers, the utility reminded customers Wednesday.

The DWP said the increase, which was approved by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on Sept. 28, reflects the cost of various water supplies including purchased water to meet the demand created by customers who use large amounts of water.

"The drought conditions the city is facing are serious despite recent wet conditions," said Anselmo Collins, senior assistant general manager of the DWP's water system. "As we urge Angelenos to step up their conservation efforts, the water rate changes further encourage and incentivize water conservation while ensuring rates remain relatively the same for customers who use the least amount of water."

California adopts water restrictions as drought prevails

The action comes as Californians have failed to meet Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call for a voluntary 15% reduction in water use compared to last year. Between July and November, the state’s water usage went down just 6%.

Customers' water rates are separated by a four-tiered pricing structure based on a customer's water use. As of Saturday, when the new year began, the monthly water cost for a typical residential customer in Tier 1 and Tier 2 who use the same amount of water as in 2021 will remain about the same.

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For customers paying Tier 3 rates, the cost of 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons, of water will increase from $9.192 to $10.436.

LADWP's highest water users, who pay Tier 4 rates, will see a rate increase from $9.192 to $12.794 per 748 gallons.

DWP customers were advised of the rate increase in their bills, but Tier 3 and Tier 4 users will also receive a letter from the utility about the increase and how they can conserve water.

The increase comes as the state faces a historic drought, despite heavy precipitation in the final weeks of 2021. In December, California announced a 0% initial allocation of water from the State Water Project in 2022, a source of water for the DWP.

The DWP on Wednesday again urged customers to follow the city's Water Conservation Ordinance by limiting plant watering to three days a week and limiting cycles to up to eight minutes per station per watering day for non- conserving nozzle sprinkler systems or two 15-minute cycles per watering day for conserving nozzle sprinkler systems. It also prohibits all outdoor watering between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

California officials on Tuesday adopted a series of emergency drought rules to help the state conserve water, but many of the restrictions are already in place in the city of Los Angeles.

Among the new statewide rules already in effect in Los Angeles, according to the LADWP's website, are prohibitions on watering lawns and landscapes during or within 48 hours of rainfall; watering in a way that causes runoff into streets, driveways and gutters; washing hard-surfaced areas such as driveways and sidewalks with potable water; and washing vehicles with a hose that doesn't have a shut-off nozzle.

The statewide rules also prohibit people from using potable water to fill decorative fountains, lakes and ponds. People can use water to replace evaporative losses from fountains, lakes and ponds that have pumps to re- circulate water. The rules also prohibit using potable water to irrigate turf on public street medians or publicly owned or maintained landscaped areas between the street and sidewalk.

People who violate the rules could face up to $500 for each day in which the violation occurs.

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