This story is part of a new reporting series that examines the various influences that affect San Diegans’ cost of living. More tales can be found here.
The expense of supplying water to San Diego and maintaining the system that does so is growing, yet the amount of water consumed by San Diegans is decreasing.
According to the Water Authority’s figures, the average San Diegan drank 235 gallons of drinking water per day in 1990. By 2021, San Diegans will have lowered their daily water consumption in half, to 130 gallons. Megadroughts that forced obligatory water restrictions resulted in improved water saving behaviors that remained.
However, even though San Diegans are using less, their costs are rising. Beginning in 2023, the cost of San Digeo’s water supply is predicted to grow by 5.5 to 10%, with steep increases continuing in subsequent years.
“These supplies will be significant to our region long after I’m dust,” Gary Arant, president of the Valley Center Municipal Water District, said of the water rights San Diego has secured. “We have a lot of water right now. It’s costly, but I believe the choices we took were sound.”
The expense of acquiring water from the Colorado River or a desalination plant in Carlsbad is the starting point for a chain reaction of prices that ends with San Diegans paying a monthly payment for water. San Diego used to acquire its water from a single source: the Metropolitan Water Authority of Los Angeles, or Met.
However, when a severe drought in the 1990s forced statewide mandated water cuts, San Diego realized that relying on a single water supply wasn’t such a good idea. That’s when San Diego became hell-bent on diversifying its water supplies, striking large (and expensive) deals with others who held rights to Colorado River water beyond Los Angeles, building storage reservoirs, and even constructing a plant to convert ocean water into drinking water a newfangled and expensive technology.
During the recent drought, all of those investments paid off. While San Diego has enough of water, most of northern California with its numerous lakes, rivers, rain, and streams realized that its historic reliance on surface water is becoming less predictable as the climate changes. Nonetheless, San Diego’s investments came at a high cost for future generations.
It’s notoriously difficult to assess how the price of the supply impacts different regions of San Diego. According to the Water Authority, it does not keep track of water tariffs for its 24 water districts’ customers. When the Water Authority raises prices, however, the increase is distributed unevenly among the 24 smaller water districts that purchase from it.
For example, a 3.6 percent increase in wholesale water costs charged by the Water Authority in 2022 resulted in a 7% increase for consumers in the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, which serves a region spanning Carlsbad to Interstate 15, Fairbanks Ranch, and Cardiff. According to a survey of water bills conducted by the Otay Water District, the average rate in the city of San Diego will be around $90 per month in 2022, up from $77 per month in 2017. This represents a nearly 17 percent increase in out-of-pocket costs in just five years.
Understanding how the Water Authority charges for its many water sources, as well as additional costs for creating all of the infrastructure that kept the region hydrated throughout the recent drought, is one approach to look at what’s causing the water price shock.
In San Diego, how much does a monthly water bill cost?
Although costs are higher on average than in a typical American metropolis, these expenditures are not consistent. Residents, for example, will spend 179.1 percent more for housing. The community’s typical home price is $645,000, compared to $231,000 nationally. In the last decade, the value of homes in the neighborhood has increased by 55.9%, compared to a national average of 27.4%. That could be good news for first-time homebuyers who want to be sure their investment is secure.
Renters make up 48.5 percent of the population, meaning roughly half of the citizens live in their own homes. Only roughly 6.9% of residences are declared empty, which is significantly lower than the national average of 12.2%. As a result of the increased demand for housing, prices will undoubtedly rise.
Median Home Price
The median property price in this community, like most others, varies depending on a variety of criteria. Those looking to purchase a property in a specific price range should check into numerous different communities. The Encanto district in the city’s southeast, for example, occasionally has properties for sale for between $620,00 and $750,000, making it quite inexpensive. Nestor’s median prices are sometimes occasionally cheaper than in other San Diego neighborhoods.
Emerald Hills is also an excellent neighborhood for those looking for a more inexpensive house, with prices ranging from $419,000 to $750,000. A Downtown San Diego apartment may appeal to those who prefer the bustling world of a dense metropolitan location. The median price of a home in downtown is roughly $572,000.
Median Rent
New residents who want to rent or aren’t ready to buy can choose from a choice of rental houses in the area. The average monthly rent for a studio apartment in the city is $1,450, although renters can save money by residing in the metro area for roughly $1,330. In the United States, a studio apartment costs around $820 on average.
In San Diego, a one-bedroom apartment costs around $1,620 per month. Residents in the city may pay roughly $2,110 per month for a two-bedroom apartment, compared to around $1,940 in the metro area. Adding a third bedroom can raise the monthly rent to about $3,020, over twice the national average of $1,600. The most expensive four-bedroom rentals are at $3,700 per month. It’s possible that moving to the region’s outskirts will cost around $3,400.
Utilities in San Diego
Where housing costs are significantly higher than in the average American neighborhood, utility expenditures are nearly the same. New occupants should expect to pay roughly 3% extra for basic services like electricity and water. San Diego’s warm climate, among other things, helps inhabitants avoid the high seasonal costs associated with living in colder climates. San Diego residents pay roughly $88 per month on average for power.
Water and sewerage costs must also be factored into a resident’s budget. Each month, new residents should expect to pay around $80 for their water bill. The cost of sewer service might be around $52. The price of internet service varies greatly based on the data speed and service provider. The average monthly charges for major corporations range from $50 to $60.
There are a multitude of cell phone plans available in the area. The cheapest rates start at around $40 per month, although most residents pay over $72 per month for mobile phone service. Homeowners insurance is a final expenditure to consider. While many people may not think this expense is required, it is the most effective approach to safeguard property against loss. The cost of coverage is estimated to be around $905 per year.
In San Diego, how much does a water bill normally cost?
San Diego boasts some of California’s and the country’s most costly water.
Water costs around $80 per month for a typical San Diego household. According to a recent poll by the American Water Works Association, the national average is less than $40 a month.
Although water in California is more expensive than elsewhere, according to another recent assessment, San Diego still has one of the highest prices in the state. Communities along the state’s Central Coast, such as Santa Barbara, have the most costly water in the state.
The cost of water from the San Diego County Water Authority has more than doubled since 2007.
In the agency’s worst-case scenario for the future, water bills are expected to nearly quadruple again in the following decade.
The Water Authority purchases water from various sources and resells it to municipal water agencies, such as the San Diego Water Department.
Depending on where a consumer lives within the county, the variation between the highest and lowest bill is substantial. According to a recent rate survey by the Otay Water District, a family in the remote North County village of Yuima spends $110 per month for the same quantity of water as a family in Lakeside pays $58. San Diego’s rates are in the middle of the two extremes.
It’s notoriously difficult to compare water rates fairly. Each water district has its unique set of conditions, some of which are out of its control. Weather, population, topography, money, the year a municipality was founded, political actions, and even the types of soils all have an impact on rates.
However, the general trend in San Diego has been steadily rising rates. Furthermore, rates appear to be climbing quicker in this area than elsewhere in Southern California.
The Water Authority’s attempt to buy itself out of a poor marriage is one of the main drivers.
The Water Authority has been attempting for years to disassociate itself from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Los Angeles-based organization from which it receives much of its water.
Metropolitan is blamed by the Water Authority for neglecting to prepare for a drought in the early 1990s, which harmed San Diego then and now. The Water Authority embarked on a spending binge to investigate other sources of water to prevent being so dependant on Metropolitan for water. To prepare for a drought or other emergency, it also built or extended local dams. With the help of the business community and ratepayers, the Water Authority has been able to accomplish this.
“Increasing reliability comes at a cost, and we’ve never been shy about informing stakeholders or consumers that,” said Mike Lee, a spokesman for the Water Authority.
In 2003, the Water Authority agreed to buy enough Colorado River water from another water organization in Imperial County to provide 1.6 million people for a year. That was the country’s largest water purchase of its sort. Then, a year and a half ago, it assisted with the opening of the country’s largest desalination plant in Carlsbad.
Why is my San Diego water bill so high?
If you have an extremely high bill, the first thing you should do is try to come up with a logical explanation. This happens frequently, and even a minor leak might result in a significant rise in your bill. A leaking toilet or an issue with your irrigation system could be the cause. pry the lid off with one of the holes.
What is the average San Diego utility bill?
A typical monthly utility bill will cost roughly $138, which is slightly more than in San Francisco but less than in Los Angeles. In general, utility expenditures in San Diego are comparable to the national average.
In San Diego, how often is water billed?
San Diego’s sewer and water services are provided by the city. The average monthly water bill in San Diego is $80, which is nearly twice as much as the national average. San Diego has one of the highest water rates in the state and country.
What are the monthly utility costs in San Diego?
The mild weather and breezy summers in San Diego will keep your utility costs low. Temperatures in the winter range from 50 to 67 degrees. As a result, residents may enjoy the outdoors all year.
Electricity, cooling, heating, garbage, and water are all included in a typical utility bill for a 915 sq. ft. apartment, which averages roughly $181.14 per month. Furthermore, internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) will add $71.43 to your total monthly utility costs, bringing your total to $252.57 per month.
In California, how often do you pay your water bill?
Every two months, all residential customers receive a bill. Hover, tap, or click the areas of the bill you’re interested in for details of fees and charges.
Has the cost of water in San Diego increased?
Starting in January 2022, the City of San Diego raised wastewater rates for the first time in ten years, by 5%. In addition, commencing in January 2022, a pass-through tax from the San Diego County Water Authority to cover an increase in the cost of imported water boosted water prices by 3%.
The rate adjustment boosts sewer revenue by 5%, allowing the city to continue upgrading essential infrastructure by replacing aged pipes and sewer mains. It also funds projects such as Pure Water, a groundbreaking water recycling initiative that will boost local drinking water supplies, reduce wastewater treatment costs, and limit discharges to the ocean.
Water and sewer bills alter depending on the type of account (residential, business, etc.) and the wastewater system’s utilization.
The city presently imports up to 90% of its water, with the majority of it coming from the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA). While the cost of acquiring water from CWA has risen in recent years, the City is passing on a rate adjustment of approximately 3% beginning in 2022 for the first time in two years. San Diego’s water and sewer rates are made up of base fees and consumption charges for different customer classes.
How much water does San Diego consume on a daily basis?
The usage of water was praised because daily household water consumption in San Diego County fell by 8.8% from 91 gallons per capita in 2018 to 83 gallons in 2019. Residential water use is still below pre-drought levels from 2011, when it peaked at 119 gallons per capita in 2007. The 2018 year was unusually dry, however the 2019 year saw rainfall recover to levels seen in 2017, presumably contributing to a return to 2017 levels of water use. Between 2018 and 2019, all but three of the county’s 24 water districts raised their expected municipal and industrial water demand.
