Residents Protest Water Rate Increase of 245% in Silicon Valley Suburb

Two thousand residents of Milpitas California submitted their signatures to their local City Council as a protest to the elimination of tiered water rates and the 245% rate increase to be imposed in stages by April 1 2016, with additional increases to be imposed in July. Flat rates lower the price of water for industrial and commercial construction projects while increasing the price of each HLF water unit price for residential use from $2.62 to $6.43. Rate increases include a Capital surcharge for maintenance of the water infrastructure.

Despite this year’s El Niño, projected drought shortfalls necessitate prioritizing water usage. …read more