County sewer division outlines multiyear rate increase for San Dimas customers

Andrew Numba, division chief for Los Angeles County Public Works'Sewer Maintenance Division, told the San Dimas City Council the district is operating at a deficit and is proposing a multiyear increase in the sewer service charge that would raise the current $50 annual fee per sewage unit by $14 a year for three years, then by the rate of inflation for two more years.

The presentation explained the district's responsibilities in Los Angeles County and in San Dimas specifically: maintenance of local main sewer lines, regular inspections of manholes, twice-weekly checks of seven pump stations in the city and 24-hour emergency response for stoppages and overflows. In San Dimas the district estimates roughly 90,500 parcels and about 13,200 sewage units; the district said about 95% of the city's sewer lines show no significant structural defects. Numba said the district estimates about $2.4 million to address localized sewer-line deficiencies and about $4.5 million to replace pipes coming out of the San Dimas pump station.

On finances, Numba said the district has run stagnant rates since 2014, while labor and construction costs have risen sharply. "We are proposing to increase the current $50 per sewage unit per sewer service charge by $14 per year," he said, adding the district expects to exhaust reserves and operate in the red by the end of the next fiscal year without new revenue. He also described the district's outreach: a rate study completed in January, Prop 218 notices mailed in May, and scheduled open houses, webinars and community-language materials. The Board of Supervisors will consider the rate increase at a public hearing on June 24; if there is no majority protest under Proposition 218, the charges would be collected on property tax bills beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Council members and residents asked follow-up questions about the age of the city's pipes, what constitutes an emergency response, the district's approach to pest or roach complaints, whether low-income or senior assistance exists and how often trouble-prone mains are cleaned. Numba said the system in San Dimas is generally newer than other parts of the county, that emergency responses most commonly address sewage overflows caused by blockages and that the district does mitigate pest infestations where warranted. He said the district currently has no subsidy program tied to the sewer service charge because fees must reflect the cost of service, though the division pursues grants when available. For recurring root problems the district uses periodic cleanings on 30-, 60- or 90-day cycles.

Next steps: the county has mailed Prop 218 notices to affected property owners and plans public outreach prior to the Board of Supervisors hearing on June 24. The city did not take formal action at the meeting; council members and staff said they and residents can follow up with county staff or raise comments at the June hearing.