Some County Residents' Water Rates to Rise

PERRIS - Beginning in February, some western Riverside County residents will notice larger water bills as new rates set by the Eastern Municipal Water District take effect.

According to the agency, water customers' bills will increase an average $2 a month following rate hikes approved by the EMWD Board of Directors Wednesday.

The EMWD's roughly 135,000 customers, who include residents and businesses located within a 542-square-mile area from Moreno Valley to Temecula, are billed according to the number of ''units'' consumed monthly.

One unit is 748 gallons.

The increased usage fee does not apply to sewage.

The agency relies on a multi-tiered system to determine rates, and some customers will see a relatively marginal jump in costs, while others, particularly big ''water wasters,'' will notice a larger hit to the pocketbook, said EMWD Board President Joe Kuebler.

He said the increased rates were necessary to offset higher water importation costs from Northern California and the Colorado River. The district has also just about depleted a $3 million water rate ''stabilization'' fund that had enabled it to avoid passing higher operating expenses onto customers.