Santa Margarita Water District

Water and Sewer Rates

The District's current water, sewer, and power surcharge (if applicable) rates are listed below. Customer bills are based on an approximate 30-day billing cycle. Your monthly bill may have fewer or more days, depending when your meter is read.

Customers can find more detailed information about the District’s rates and surcharges by viewing the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

If you have any questions regarding your account or the current rates, please contact our customer service department at 949-459-6420 or email us at custservice@smwd.com. Customers can also use our “Live Chat” feature on our website, available during normal operating business hours of Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Water Rates

There are two parts to the water rates charged to SMWD’s customers: the fixed basic service charge and the variable consumption charge. The basic service charge is a fixed amount based on the meter size at the service address. The most common meter sizes for residential properties are ¾” and 1”. See your water bill for your water meter size. To promote conservation and recover costs, a tiered billing structure is used for potable (drinking) water that increases as customers use more water.

Sewer Rates

There are two parts to the sewer rates charges to SMWD’s customers: the fixed basic service charge and a volumetric charge, based on the amount of sewer discharged. Since it is not practical to individually meter sewer discharge, water consumption is used to determine the volumetric charge. For commercial customers, the volumetric charge is also based on the type (quality) of wastewater discharged by different classes of users. User categories are outlined in the charts below.

Water and Sewer Rates - Effective January 1, 2012

Due to sharply rising costs of imported water from our supplier, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), and general inflationary cost increases as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), it is necessary for Santa Margarita Water District to increase its water and sewer rates beginning January 1, 2012. Because nearly half of SMWD’s operating budget is dedicated to purchasing water, the District must raise rates to continue delivering a safe, reliable water supply. Additional information about rising imported water costs and the District’s ongoing operational efficiency programs can be found in the November issue of On Tap, the District’s newsletter. The District has also included related information about water costs and supplies in previous On-Tap issues.

The Board of Directors approved the water and sewer rates increase at its Finance Committee Meeting on November 11, 2011. The increase includes a pass-through charge of $.11 per CCF for imported water from our supplier, Metropolitan Water District, and a 3.15% CPI pass-through charge that will apply to water and sewer consumption and base charges. These pass-through increases are allowable under SMWD’s Proposition 218 notice and public hearing in July 2009 when the District last increased water and sewer rates.

With the rates increase, the average SMWD residential customer will see a $3.50 increase to their monthly water and sewer bill (based on a single family residence using 16 units (ccf) of water). The new rates will apply to water usage and sewer services in January 2012. Customers whose billing cycle falls between the two months of December 2011 and January 2012 will be charged the lower water and sewer rates. Please contact our customer service department at 949-459-6420 if you have any questions.

Residential Water and Sewer Rates

Basic Water Service Charges (monthly)
Meter Size	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
3/4"	$6.22
1"	$8.01
1 1/2"	$13.24
2"	$19.53
2 1/2"	$27.90
3"	$36.27
4"	$55.10
6"	$107.42
8"	$170.20
10"	$253.90

Basic Sewer Service Charges (monthly)
Meter Size	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
3/4"	$8.99
1"	$14.46
1 1/2"	$28.02
2"	$44.33
2 1/2"	$66.12
3"	$89.74
4"	$136.93
6"	$273.09
8"	$436.32
10"	$653.71

Consumption Charges (1 ccf = 748 gallons)
Class	Tier (ccf)	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
Single Family	0-6 7-20 21-35 36-70 71+	$2.05 $2.17 $2.64 $3.14 $3.99
Multi-family Single Meter Common Meter	0-3 4-6 7-12 13-24 25+	$2.05 $2.17 $2.64 $3.14 $3.99

Sanitation Volumetric Charge
Class	Max Units	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
Single Family	11	$1.03
Multi-Family/Single Meter	9	$1.03
Multi-Family/Common Meter	7	$1.03

Commercial Water and Sewer Rates

Basic Water Service Charges (monthly)
Meter Size	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
3/4"	$6.22
1"	$8.01
1 1/2"	$13.24
2"	$19.53
2 1/2"	$27.90
3"	$36.27
4"	$55.10
6"	$107.42
8"	$170.20
10"	$253.90

Basic Sewer Service Charges (monthly)
Meter Size	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
3/4"	$8.99
1"	$14.46
1 1/2"	$28.02
2"	$44.33
2 1/2"	$66.12
3"	$89.74
4"	$136.93
6"	$273.09
8"	$436.32
10"	$653.71

Consumption Charges (1 ccf = 748 gallons)
Class	Tier (ccf)	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
Irrigation Lakefill Domestic Non-Domestic Non-Domestic/Blended	Flat Rate Flat Rate Flat Rate Flat Rate	$2.22 $2.22 $1.79 $2.18
Other Commercial C2-Med-Low Strength C3-Med-High Strength C4-High Strength CR-Recreational Fire Service Construction	Flat Rate Flat Rate Flat Rate Flat Rate Flat Rate Flat Rate	$2.22 $2.22 $2.22 $2.22 $2.22 $2.22

Sanitation Volumetric Charge
Class	Max Units	Rate as of Jan 1, 2012
C1-Med-Low Strength	No Max	$1.23
C2-Med-Low Strength	No Max	$1.51
C3-Med-High Strength	No Max	$2.02
C4-High Strength	No Max	$3.62
CR-Recreational	No Max	$1.23

About Power Surcharges

SMWD customers who live in an elevated area within the District where water is pumped to their location may pay a power surcharge. The surcharge passes through the cost the District pays for electricity to pump the water. The surcharge is determined by the pumping zone. There are three pumping zones in the District that are assessed a surcharge. This rate applies to domestic and non-domestic water.