Topline:
Starting this month, the cost of residential sewer service in L.A. will go up 22% to pay for repairs and upgrades to an aging wastewater system.
What my bill might look like: A typical single-family household is charged $75.40 every two months, but that will jump to $92 under a rate schedule recently approved by the mayor and city council and effective Oct.19.
Why now: The city has not raised sewer fees since 2020 because of the pandemic. The sanitation bureau said that it needs more funds to upgrade and repair L.A.’s 6,700-mile sewer system and the four plants where wastewater is processed.
How much will the increase will generate: Mayor Karen Bass's office projects nearly $115 million will be raised this upcoming fiscal year.
Financial aid: Income-eligible households can get help with the higher charges through the city’s EZ-SAVE Program. A family of four making about $62,000 would qualify.
What's next: Six more increases are planned through 2028. The typical bill by that time is projected to be $155.
