The Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Water Agency has approved sewer service rate increases ranging from 3.5% in South Park to 8.9% in Sea Ranch.
The board voted Tuesday to raise rates in the following sanitation zones and districts for the 2025-26 fiscal year:
- Sea Ranch: $1,806 (up $148 or 8.9%)
- Geyserville: $1,680 (up $132 or 8.6%)
- Russian River: $2,486 (up $194 or 8.5%)
- Airport-Larkfield-Wikiup: $1,444 (up $112 or 8.5%)
- Penngrove: $2,298 (up $166 or 7.8%)
- Sonoma Valley: $1,428 (up $80 or 6%)
- Occidental: $3,146 (up $140 or 4.7%)
- South Park: $1,232 (up $42 or 3.5%)
“The rate adjustments are based on financial and engineering evaluations of the cost of operating and upgrading wastewater systems and complying with environmental regulations,” Sonoma Water General Manager Grant Davis said in a press release Friday.
The increases were necessary to support ongoing operations, maintenance and critical infrastructure upgrades, Sonoma Water said.
Rates will take effect July 1 and be collected on the property tax roll, the agency said.
The board also renewed the Sanitation Rate Relief Program, which provides a 50 percent discount on sewer bills for eligible low-income homeowners and qualifying nonprofits.
Up to $600,000 from Sonoma Water’s general fund is allocated annually to the program. In fiscal year 2024-25, 212 customers received $231,477 in assistance, the agency said.