Cerritos staff propose water and sewer rate increases to pay for decades‑old system

Cerritos public works officials told the city commission on Wednesday that aging wells, pipes and pump stations require immediate investment and that utility rates must rise to avoid deep cuts to other city services.

"For years, residents have enjoyed very low rates," said Alvin Papa, director of public works. "But now the rates that are being proposed, they are high...we have a large need." He said the city faces an estimated $81,000,000 funding gap over the next five years if rates remain unchanged and that continuing to subsidize the utilities from the general fund is not sustainable.

The presentation described the water system as four wells (three active, one inactive), three reservoirs, booster stations and roughly 172 miles of pipe serving about 15,400 service connections. Staff said much of the infrastructure is 50–60 years old and cited frequent pipe leaks, rusted valves, cracked reservoir structures and pump and variable frequency drive failures.

Staff cited consultant recommendations to replace about one mile of pipe per year at roughly $3.3 million per mile and said a five‑year pipe replacement plan would total about $17 million. They also identified cathodic protection and…