BRENTWOOD – After cost-saving measures by the city, an expected hike in water rates for Brentwood residents has been cut nearly in half.
The Brentwood City Council voted unanimously on July 1 to lower the rate from the previously approved 6.5% to the recommended 4% for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Public Works Director Casey Wichert said as part of the ongoing fiscal review, staff determined there wasn’t a necessity to have the original 6.5% increase, largely due to operational savings.
“The weather, believe it or not, causes the biggest impact on the treatment plant,” said Wichert. “Lower chemical usage associated with good quality water in the Delta is the major reason for that.”
In June 2023, the City Council had adopted its rate structure for water, wastewater and solid waste utilities for fiscal years 2023/24 through 2027/28. It then requested that staff analyze the annual revenue and expenses of the Water, Wastewater, and Solid Waste Enterprise Fund to determine if a full rate increase was needed each year.
This year, staff determined that a 4% increase would suffice to cover the expenditures of the fund.
According to a staff report, various factors contributed to the healthy finances in the enterprise fund, such as the cancellation of the expansion on Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County; better quality of water in the Delta, resulting in lower treatment costs to convey and treat water; and a 10.7% operational budget savings in personnel costs.
Mayor Susannah Meyer asked how residents would be notified of the water rate reduction. Wichert said they would receive notifications in their bill inserts.
“We’ve also sent out some social media blasts, and we will put it on our website as well,” said Wichert.
Meyer also asked how often the quality of water is being evaluated at the treatment plants. Wichert said laboratories run tests daily.
“Those tests lead to chemical dosages. Those chemicals are very expensive, and when the water is cleaner, it requires less chemicals, so our costs go down,” said Wichert.
