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Morro Bay water rates to double and then some

March 30, 2015

morro bay plantMorro Bay water bills will more than double over the next five years, and they will be accompanied by a similar increase in sewer rates. [Tribune]

Last week, the Morro Bay City Council unanimously approved a new rate structure that will increase the water bill for a typical family from $33.20 a month to $75.50 by July 2019. Over the same period, a typical monthly sewer bill will rise from $45.59 to $83.

The typical family, which uses about 150 gallons of water a day, will begin paying $50 a month this July. The monthly bill will increase to $65.50, or nearly double the current cost, by July 2017.

The city has not raised water rates in 20 years. Both city management and council members are placing blame for the sharp increase on past councils, saying they should have gradually raised rates.

City staff estimate the water system will need about $9 million in infrastructure improvements over the next decade. The city’s aging sewage treatment system will require about $10 million worth of maintenance.

Additionally, Morro Bay is attempting to build a new sewage treatment plant, which is estimated to cost about $75 million. The city initially planned to rebuild its current plant, but the Morro Bay council changed course after the California Coastal Commission rejected a reconstruction proposal.

Morro Bay ratepayers could still stage a protest to overturn the coming rate hikes, but more than 50 percent of ratepayers would have to formally object to the proposed increases. A ratepayer protest hearing is scheduled for May 26.


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I suggest M. Bay get the message out to the tourists. They probably use way more than

the average homeowner while staying in local motels, etc. Motel/hotel owners have to

notify their guests about the water shortage/costs.


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I knew it was only a matter of time before the sewage spewing from Irons, Ochs et al required a sewer rate increase to deal with the sheer volume and a water rate increase to provide the water for the flushing. Well done Morro Bay.


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Morro Bay renters: Head for the hills! You think your rent is unreasonable now?


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Morro Bay sends notices to residents telling them not to drink the water, most of us also pay for drinking water delivery.


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use less – pay more


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Grab your ankles because we the politicians will give ourselves a raise while we are at it.


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150 gallons per day?

Sheesh what are you guys doing with all that water?

Our family of 4 uses 200 gallons per week!


Time to pay up…..


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Family of 4 using 200 gallons per week? I am now adding YOU to the list of sewer spewers, Irons, Ochs, et al.


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Nope. 4 showers per day. We fill the water tanks up every Saturday and easily live on 200gals/week.

But the fact that you fall to the lowest level of personal attack discredits you and any point you would make, so thanks for showing us who you really are, so we can ignore you.


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The initial plan, to rebuild the plant at it’s current location, was rejected by the California Coastal Commission after Mayor Jamie Irons asked them to do so the day of the vote.


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Thank you taxpayer for pointing that oversight by CCN out to all of us. Irons did ASK the CCC to doom his town to unnecessary expense of relocation. Brain-dead arrogance. Irons SUNK his town without asking them to vote on his bonehead scheme. At his request. Incredible arrogance to doom a whole town. I don’t think CCN will let me use the language Irons deserves.


And, BTW, a $ 75 a month sewer bill will NEVER be able to pay for Iron’s arrogance. MB is screwed in a different way but potentially higher cost, than Los Osos. If any of you Irons-defending, babbling, unaware types want to see it, I can show you a $ 24,933 sewer expense for a Los Osos property.


It will take years, but MB will see the incredible sewer bills and expenses, and many revisionists (like our Los Osos Julie Tacker) will try to obfuscate WHY it went so high. Irons is a criminal as far as I’m concerned.


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‘Tis the season. Everybody’s doin’ it, so that makes it right, right? And we’re 100% certain the City of Morro Bay will use the additional funds wisely. No worries!


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