Water Bills Set To Rise In Canyon Lake, Elsinore, Murrieta, Wildomar

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — If you are an Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District customer, you might want to learn about proposed rate hikes that could see monthly increases of $15-$17 on your bills starting July 1 and lasting through June 2029.

EVMWD is considering rate adjustments for water, wastewater, and recycled water services for customers within the district's boundaries. This includes ratepayers in Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, portions of Murrieta, and surrounding areas.

Visit EVMWD.com/Calculator to see the impact of the proposed rate adjustments on your monthly bill.

According to EVMWD, rate adjustments are necessary to cover the rising costs of imported water, treatment costs driven up by higher energy and chemical prices, upgrades and investments in aging infrastructure, and new state and federal regulations that require additional spending to ensure compliance.

At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, EVMWD will hold a public workshop designed to provide the public with more information about the proposed rate increases. Attendees can ask questions and speak to officials.

From there, the EVMWD Board of Directors will facilitate a formal public hearing at 4 p.m., on Thursday, June 26. The hearing is an opportunity to provide feedback before the EVMWD board makes a final decision on the proposed increases.

Both meetings will be held at EVMWD's boardroom, located at 31315 Chaney Street, Lake Elsinore. To join the meetings virtually, visit evmwd.com/rates.

The evmwd.com/rates portal also provides information on how to submit a formal protest or objection to the proposed rate adjustments.

Earlier this spring, EVMWD board member Chance Edmonson said the proposed rate increases are necessary.

"Unlike most neighboring cities that are nearly built out, EVMWD is only 35 percent developed," he said. "As a contractor myself, I understand both sides of this decision. But we have to do what’s best to grow this area responsibly. The cost of materials, labor and infrastructure has increased significantly over the last five years. We can’t afford to wait while inflation drives those costs even higher."

As a public utility, EVMWD is barred from profiting off of customers.

Under the proposal, not all customers are expected to see rate increases. The EVMWD board is also considering merging the district's Elsinore and Temescal divisions to ensure all customers pay the same for service improvements. According to the district, if the merger is approved, a family of four in Temescal Valley could save up to $80 a month on their water bill by 2029.