Proactive Efforts Help EMWD Minimize Proposed Rate Adjustments

Perris, CA (April 18, 2025) – Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) is committed to delivering safe and reliable services while maintaining a strong financial model to provide value for its customers.

As part of its fiduciary responsibility to its customers, EMWD is proposing rate adjustments in 2026 and 27 which will ensure it recovers the cost of delivering water and wastewater services to nearly 1 million customers within its service area. 

EMWD is among the leading agencies nationally in delivering cost-effective solutions to address water affordability. Even with these proactive efforts, many factors are outside of EMWD’s control, resulting in cost increases that must be recovered to ensure long-term financial stability.

EMWD is proposing an average 8.2 percent increase in water rates in each of the next two years, and a 2 to 7 percent increase in sewer rates in each of those years.  For most customers, these increases equate to approximately $8 more a month in 2026 and $9 more a month in 2027.  These adjustments are necessary due to rising expenses related to imported water purchases, treatment, and essential maintenance projects. EMWD’s proposed increases are lower than the cost increases of imported water supplies by its wholesale provider, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Based on an independent cost-of-service study completed in 2023, rates are established to accurately reflect the cost of providing water and sewer service. EMWD updated the model using current budget figures, while maintaining the methodology of the study. As a public agency, EMWD charges only for the cost of service and is not a for-profit organization with shareholders.

EMWD will host a public hearing on June 4, 2025, at 9 a.m. to consider its upcoming budget and rates. All customers were mailed an official notice of the hearing, in compliance with Proposition 218. The hearing will take place in EMWD’s Board Room, located at 2270 Trumble Road, Perris, CA.

The proposed costs for the average water and sewer bill are below many neighboring agencies. EMWD’s rates are also below the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold for water affordability in the region.

To help minimize rates, EMWD has proactively secured approximately $800 million in grant funding over the past 25 years from federal, state, and local sources. It is committed to returning customers’ tax dollars back into their service area to ensure long-term reliability. 

With a AAA credit rating, EMWD benefits from the lowest available borrowing costs. It has invested in a wide range of operational efficiencies, including automated systems, renewable energy sources, and other investments in projects and programs to provide long-term value for customers. EMWD is also investing in local water supply projects, to further reduce the impacts of the rising costs of imported water supplies.

“EMWD is committed to providing value to our customers, and we actively work to keep rates affordable,” EMWD Board President Stephen Corona said. “We understand that any rate increase is challenging in these economic times, but we have been able to successfully minimize those impacts because of the proactive efforts our agency has taken.”

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 Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to nearly one million people living and working within a 682-square mile service area in western Riverside County and northern San Diego County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency, and its mission is “To deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.” More information can be found at www.emwd.org