A pending 334 percent hike in the cost of raw water the City of Manteca secures through the South San Joaquin Irrigation District won’t impact municipal water rates for at least four years.
That said, Manteca’s basic water rates are going up $6.36 a month from the current $21.24 to $27.60 on July 1, 2026.
There are two more pending hikes already in place after that. The monthly household rate will go to $32.57 on July 1, 2027 and then $34.53 on July 1, 2028.
The pending rate hikes are a direct result of the city not raising rates for 13 years to cover inflation-impacted maintenance and operations as well as a need to replace aging pipeline and other water system infrastructure.
Similar reasons are behind the SSJID raw water rate hike for the city that goes into effect 13 months from now in January 2027.
In the case of the SSJID raw water rate, it hasn’t been increased since the surface treatment water plant started operation in 2005.
The city is currently charged $30.89 per acre foot. The new charge will be $130.27 per acre foot in 2027. That rate will be adjusted upward every January through 2031 until it reaches $218.36 per acre foot.
The city has an allocation of 11,500 acre feet of water each year.
In 2024, the city used 8,726 acre feet of the allocation.
They paid $269,546 at the current price.
That same amount of water used during 2027 will cost $1,136,736.
It reflects an $867,190 increase.
Spread out among 30,000 water customers in Manteca, that is pro-rated at $28.90 a year or $2.40 in increased cost the city will have per household each month in 2027 for raw water costs.
The cost of maintenance and operation of the treatment plant is shared on a prorated basis by the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy.
Because Tracy and Lathrop are not within SSJID territory, as out-of-district users they pay roughly $55 more per acre of water.
The lower in-district rate reflects the fact city property owners pay taxes to the SSJID.
City officials Tuesday indicated the water fund has a reserve for contingencies and emergencies that will be used to cover the increase raw water rate hike that — if it was included in the city’s study setting the new household charges — it certainly wasn’t at 334 percent.
Before the city can deviate from its adopted rates, under law they would have to conduct a rate study first that would cost them to do.
For the current city rates to ultimately increase beyond the basic rate of $34.53 targeted to go into effect July 1, 2028 would require a rate study.
Adjustments would be needed if the water fund hasn’t kept up with covering inflated costs and if additional major system replacement projects are needed.
Keep in mind the basic rate does not cover water that is used. Actual household water use is charged per hundred cubic feet.
The current rate structure charges $2.47 per HCF up to 20 HCF.
It will go to $3.22 on July 1, 2026, $3.80 on July 1, 2027, and $4.03 on July 1, 2028.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
