A written Water Rate Study Report, prepared by Raftelis, an independent financial consulting firm specializing in cost-of-service analyses and rate setting, is on file in the office of the City Clerk and available for public inspection and is posted here on the City’s website. The net impact of the proposed changes in the water service rates for water customers will vary based upon actual water consumption and meter size. 

Raftelis presented an analysis to the City Council at its meeting on April 5, 2022.  The item can be viewed on the City's website by clicking here. It is item 20 on the Agenda. 

View the 2022 Water Rate Study Report. (PDF)

Questions? Contact Public Works at (310) 802-5313 or email at publicworks@manhattanbeach.gov 

The City of Manhattan Beach proposed changes to its current water service rates and ultimately adopted Resolution No. 22-0079 on June 7, 2022, adopting the annual increases effective November 1, 2022. 

Per Proposition 218, the City could not impose these rate changes without providing the property owners/rate payers an opportunity to protest and essentially overturn the rate increase.  A Proposition 218 notice was sent to all property owners/rate payers of record that receive water service from the City and may be impacted by these changes. The new water rates will to be effective November 1, 2022 and will be adjusted each November 1st for 5 years (November 1 2022, 2023, 2025, 2025 and 2026).  The rate schedule shows the proposed rates, subject to potential pass-through adjustments. The rates effective after the 5th year increase cannot be adjusted again unless the City undertakes the Proposition 218 process again to change the rates.

Any property owner or tenant who is directly responsible for payment of water service rates (i.e., a “water customer”) was provided a window to submit a protest against the proposed changes to the water service rates. Legally, a 45 day window is required, but the City of Manhattan Beach provided a 53 day window.  Tenants that are not directly responsible for payment of water service rates received this notice as a courtesy.  City Council could not consider this type of tenants' protest in determining whether a majority protest exists against the proposed changes to the water service rates.          

Property Owner/Rate Payer: If you own property in the City or you are a tenant who is directly responsible for payment of City water utility bills, you had the legal right to submit a protest to the changes to the water service rates.

Tenant/Non-Rate Payer: If you rent or lease  property in the City and you are not directly responsible for payment of water utility bills, you received this notice as a courtesy.   

Questions? Contact Public Works at (310) 802-5313 or email publicworks@manhattanbeach.gov

The City of Manhattan Beach hosted a Community Meeting on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 6:00 PM. 

Click here to view the video recording from the Community Meeting.

The proposed changes to the water service rates were reviewed and staff was available to answer questions the public had regarding this process. The hybrid meeting took place in-person in the City Council Chambers, (1400 Highland Ave. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266) and on Zoom. 

Questions?  Contact Public Works at (310) 802-5313 or email publicworks@manhattanbeach.gov

Water Bill Calculator for Proposed Rates
The Public Hearing held on June 7, 2022 concluded with an official accounting from the City Clerk that 75 protests had been received by property owners/rate payers in Manhattan Beach.  This number did not meet the majority protest to overturn the rate increase.  Therefore, City Council adopted Resolution No. 22-0079, adopting the annual rate increases for 5 years.  The rates are effective November 1, 2022, and will be reflected in customer bills for the first time in January 2023.  Rates will adjust each November 1, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.  After the 5 year period, the City would need to perform the Proposition 218 process again to increase rates for another 5 years. 

If you are curious about your potential water rate, the City created a Water Bill Calculator to estimate scenarios based on meter size, dwelling type and water usage (and for select customers who receive a separate private fire charge). You will need information from an existing water bill to input below. 

*Please note the Water Bill Calculator only includes water charges. Sewer charges included with your bill will remain unchanged.

WATER BILL CALCULATOR

Will this affect my sewer rate?

No.  The current Proposition 218 process only addresses the water rate. 

The new rates are approved  how will my water bill be calculated?-

The table is shown at the end of this notice. 

For a typical customer, the bill would include two components:

• A Fixed Service Charge that is the same every billing cycle. This charge covers the administrative costs of billing, customer service, meter maintenance and fixed capacity costs. The larger your meter, the higher the fee.
• A Volumetric Charge, which is calculated based on the amount of water you use. This charge covers the cost of water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District via West Basin Municipal Water District, costs relating to Water Replenishment District fees, operations, maintenance, maintaining reserve funds, and more than $35 million in critical infrastructure investment planned over the next five years. The more water you use, the more you pay.

For select customers, the bill would include an additional component:

• A Private Fire Charge, which is assigned to customers with a separate, dedicated fire meter (private fire connection). 

Components of a customer water bill:

Fixed Service Charge + Volumetric Charge + (if applicable) Private Fire Charge = Customer Water Bill

What can the typical Manhattan Beach residential water customer expect to pay under the new, adopted rates effective November 1, 2022?

Each household's bill will vary based on usage.  Our typical single-family residential customer has either a 3/4” or 5/8” water meter and uses 10 hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water per month. Please note, 100 cubic feet is equal to 748 gallons of water.  The proposed average single family residential customer’s water bill will go up by approximately $25.00 bimonthly during the first year of the proposed rate increases.

The proposed average single family residential bimonthly customer water bill effective November 1, 2022:

Fixed Service Charge              Volumetric Charge                 Customer Water Bill

$28.93 (3/4” meter)       +          $131.20 (20 HCF x $6.56)         =          $160.13

Questions about your current water bill?  Contact Utility Billing at (310) 802-5486 or email revenue@manhattanbeach.gov

Questions about Proposition 218?  Contact Public Works at (310) 802-5313 or email publicworks@manhattanbeach.gov

The City Council Public Hearing held on June 7, 2022 concluded with an official accounting from the City Clerk that 75 protests had been received by property owners/rate payers in Manhattan Beach.  This number did not meet the majority protest to overturn the rate increase (the City would need to have received over 6,500 protests to overturn the rate increase).  Therefore, City Council adopted Resolution No. 22-0079, adopting the annual rate increases for 5 years. 

Date rates effective: November 1, 2022

Rates reflected in customer bills for the first time: January 2023

Rates will adjust each November 1, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. 

Click here to view the final adopted water rates, effective November 1, 2022. 

After the 5 year period, the City would need to perform the Proposition 218 process again to increase rates for another 5 years. 

Questions about your current water bill?  Contact Utility Billing at (310) 802-5486 or email revenue@manhattanbeach.gov