How does new development affect rates?

New development helps to pay for new water. Development and growth projections are part of several planning steps that lead up to rate structure modeling for the future. The following reports consider population changes and demand impacts:

  • General Plan projects growth and estimates resulting increases in water and wastewater demands throughout Ventura.
  • The Urban Water Management Plan, updated every five years, outlines future water
  • demands based on growth projections in the General Plan.
  • Each year, a Comprehensive Water Resources Report provides a shorter-term outlook on water supply and demand.

In 2016, the City adopted a Water Rights Dedication and Water Resources Net Zero Policy Ordinance, which requires new development to offset their projected new demands on the City’s water supply by dedicating water rights, implementing extraordinary conservation measures, and/or paying a fee that goes towards paying for future water supply projects, so that existing rate payers do not absorb the entire cost of necessary future water supplies.

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1. Why do water and wastewater rates need to change?
2. Why would rates change if we currently have enough water?
3. Would rates change if we did not need additional water supplies?
4. Has conservation helped to address water supply needs?
5. How does new development affect rates?
6. How will the revenue from our rates be used to improve our water and wastewater systems?
7. When was the last rate change?
8. How do Ventura's rates compare to other cities and water districts?
9. What influence does the VenturaWaterPure Project have on potential changes to the water rate structure and proposed rates?
10. Why can't water conservation be used in lieu of VenturWater Pure?
11. Which parts of our current rates were evaluated?
12. What is the process for determining rate changes?
13. What is the schedule for rate changes?
14. How often are rates evaluated and updated?
15. Who approves rate changes?
16. How do I know that the proposed rates are equitable?
17. How will the proposed rates impact my household bill?
18. What other changes can I expect?