Public meeting to discuss possible rate changes for South Tahoe Public Utility District

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A rate increase for the next five years is being considered by the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) to fund the replacement, repair or upgrades to the local water and sewer system.

With much of the system building in the 1950s and 1960s, there are problems that need to be addressed to ensure reliable delivery of high-quality drinking water and provide adequate fire flow for our community.

STPUD is holding a public meeting on February 7, 2019, to discuss the costs associated with future capital improvements and possible increases to water and sewer rates.

The meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the STPUD offices, 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe.

A rate increase of up to seven percent a year for water customers equates to an increase of $11.57 per quarter or $3.86 per month for the first year for an average residential bill. A rate increase of up to 5 percent per year for up to five years for sewer customers would equal a typical residential sewer bill rising up to $6.32 per quarter or $2.11 per month in the first year.

Some of the reasons given for a rate increase:

- More than 10 percent of South Lake Tahoe lacks access to a fire hydrant that will provide adequate water to fight a fire.

- Replacement of the undersized, aging and sometimes leaking water pipes will increase water to meet firefighting needs.

- To ensure there are no illegal and unacceptable sewer spills from the wastewater system, major upgrades are needed at the five largest sewer pump stations to extend their useful life.

- Additional investments are needed to repair and replace cracked sewer pipes and older parts of the treatment plant to keep the wastewater process running smoothly.

The District’s said their water and sewer rates are currently the lowest in the region and are expected to stay near the lowest even after the increases.