Cerritos officials outline aging water, sewer needs after C‑4 well failure as residents urge alternatives to steep rate hikes

Summary

City staff reported an emergency C‑4 well wall repair and outlined roughly $23 million in critical water projects and $3.9 million in sewer needs; council heard hours of public comment pressing for alternatives to a proposed multi‑year rate increase under Proposition 218 and approved developing low‑income discounts.

City officials told the Cerritos City Council on Jan. 12 that the city's water and sewer systems—built largely in the 1970s—require significant near‑term investment after staff discovered sand and gravel intrusion that forced the C‑4 groundwater well offline.

“Staff this evening would like to provide an update regarding the well repair as well as our city infrastructure on our water and sewer system,” City Manager Robert Lopez said before Director of Public Works Alvin Papa reviewed the system map, the age of assets and a staff‑identified list of critical projects.

Papa said the council approved an emergency repair in December totaling approximately $643,000 to address the C‑4 well wall problem. While the well is offline, the city has purchased imported water; Papa reported the city bought 176.6 acre‑feet of imported water to date, resulting in roughly $196,000 in…

Cerritos officials outline aging water, sewer needs after C‑4 well failure as residents urge alternatives to steep rate hikes

Summary

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