Sanitation district proposes five-year sewer rate increase affecting Bellflower property owners

Matt Eaton, deputy assistant chief engineer for the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, told the Bellflower City Council on Feb. 23 that the district is proposing a five-year sewer rate increase to address higher operating costs and to fund capital projects.

The proposed increase, which would take effect July 1, 2026 if approved by the district board, would add about $2.67 or $2.92 per month on parcel-specific sanitation charges for Bellflower property owners, Eaton said. He noted that sanitation charges appear on property tax bills, so renters do not see the increase directly.

Why it matters: Eaton said the district serves roughly 5.5 million people and treats about 400 million gallons of wastewater per day. “Our costs for certain things have gone up significantly,” he told the council, noting that overall some costs increased about 20% in five years and that chemicals and utility costs had doubled. The district is seeking revenue to maintain reliability, minimize spills, and support planned improvements.

Eaton described several components of the proposal: an operations budget to cover higher energy and chemical costs, ongoing maintenance and staffing needs, and capital projects including a planned expansion at the Carson treatment facility that could support up to about 150 million gallons per day for recycled-water production. He said the district recently cleared an environmental impact report for the project and that planning and engineering will continue over the next five years.

On how rates are implemented, Eaton advised residents to consult their Proposition 218 notice for parcel-specific amounts and the district website. He described a written protest process tied to Proposition 218 and said public hearings will be held at the district headquarters in Whittier on either May 13 or May 27 depending on district boundaries.

Council members pressed for details. When asked whether the $2.67 figure is an annual step, Eaton confirmed: “Every year the rates [are] going up $2.67,” and that the schedule is a multi-year step increase. On the question of who pays, he reiterated that the sanitation charge is placed on the property tax bill and that parcel notices list the applicable hearing date.

Eaton also described a low-water rebate program that requires 12 months of water bills to qualify and separate measured charges for industrial wastewater users. In response to questions about a past litigation expense tied to disposal facilities, Eaton said those costs are spread across the service area and offered a rough sense of the per-household scale as modest when amortized over time.

The sanitation district will pursue board approval after the public hearings. Eaton encouraged residents to attend informational meetings (including online sessions and an in-person tour planned for April 25) and to use rates@lacsd.org or the district website to look up parcel-specific notices and sample Proposition 218 materials.

The council did not take a formal vote on the rates; the district will proceed with its hearing and protest process before any board action.