FACT SHEET.
Water and Sewer Rates: District Financing, History, Spending, Limitations, and Infrastructure Investment
Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) works every day to deliver water, garbage and sewer services for the residents of Montara and Moss Beach. Over 6,000 residents rely on our services for their homes and businesses.
The District’s operating funds come from:
- Rates (Bills paid by customers): 49-75%
- Property Tax 1% (stable): 11-12%
- Connection and Other Fees* (variable): 10-40%
- Investment Income: 0-3%
*depends on development and new construction
California State Law (Proposition 218) limits the use of ratepayer funds (customer bill payments).
CA law requires that funds generated from rate (bill) payments be used only to operate and maintain the system (water or sewer) they are paying for. Ratepayer funds also may not be used to reduce a customer’s bill (i.e. subsidize any class of customer).
General Obligation Bond & System Purchase
In 2001, our community overwhelmingly supported the public purchase of our local water system and secured funds to upgrade it’s infrastructure.
That general obligation bond measure provided $11 million to purchase the water system and $8 million for critical system improvements.
Over the last 19 years, by leveraging those funds, along with low interest loans and grants, as well as your rate dollars, we’ve invested over $14.5 million in our water system.
We added new water tanks, installed a new groundwater well and new water treatment facilities, rehabilitated 7 of our 12 groundwater wells, begun pipeline replacements, added solar panels, improved our system technology by adding real-time monitoring and upgrading our meter reading technology.
We’ve also ensured that our staff have efficient, ready to go equipment, generators, and vehicles should an emergency occur.
Our wastewater system – including the critical plant that treats all our sewage, as well as our sewers and pumps – is also aging and reaching the end of its useful life.
We work hard to keep these systems operating for you and that work never ends.
