12% water bill increase in effect from October 1, 2019

Yesterday on Tuesday 10th September the City of Long Beach passed the bill to hike water bills by 12%. The motion was passed by 7 to 1 and the new charges will come into effect on October 1st, 2019.

This means that on a monthly base the average single family residence water bill would cost approximately $5.46. On June 13th, Chris Garner, the Water Department’s general manager, said that the increase will counterbalance the higher demands in supply cost. Garner also added that the 12% hike would help contribute to a $25 million investment in the local pumping system, which therefore could lower the rates of pumping costs locally in the long-term.

By Yasmine Tanres