Hollister’s projected sewage fees are off the chart compared to
nearby cities
Hollister residents already pay a high cost for their sewage
bills: at $31.30 a month, it’s higher than any residential sewage
rate charged by surrounding cities.
Hollister’s projected sewage fees are off the chart compared to nearby cities
Hollister residents already pay a high cost for their sewage bills: at $31.30 a month, it’s higher than any residential sewage rate charged by surrounding cities.
So with an incremental increase every year that could take the Hollister user to an eye-popping $124.10 by the fiscal year 2009-2010, it’s no wonder some folks are unhappy about it.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $120 million, and is to last until 2023. The project consists of three components: Treatment Facility – $73 million; Recycled Water Distribution System – $25 million; Seasonal Storage Pond System – $22 million. The new system will have the capacity to treat 5 million gallons of wastewater a day, double what the system can handle now.
Given Hollister’s current population of 37,183 (source: 2005 census), the $120 million cost amounts to $3,227 for every man, woman and child in the city.
Following is a list of what residential sewage fees are now in neighboring cities, compared to Hollister:
Los Banos — $12.30/mo – Sewage pond system, 118 miles of sewage mains, 13 lift stations; maintains 600 acres of cattle pasture, 185 acres of alfalfa. Treats 3.85 million gallons a day.
Santa Cruz — $27/mo (low users are $15.90/mo) – Treats 10 million gallons a day, 21 lift stations, 200 miles of sewer lines. Built a secondary treatment facility in 1998. High treatment standard since the effluent is dumped in the bay.
Watsonville — $35.10/every two months ($17.65/mo) – Treats 7 million gallons a day, 170 miles of pipeline. Treated to advanced secondary treatment standards since it’s released into Monterey Bay.
Salinas — $27/every two months ($13.50/mo) – Pond system plus modern plant; treated to tertiary standards (the highest and cleanest) as it goes into bay.
Gilroy/Morgan Hill — $29.74/mo – Award-winning modern system, pond system, built in 1990 and continually improved. Built to last up to 2038. Services both Gilroy and Morgan Hill.
Hollister’s – Currently a pond system, handles 2.7 million gallons a day.
Sewer rates will go through the roof on a yearly basis:
Currently: $31.30/mo
Fiscal year 2006-2007: $46.33
2007-2008: $64.86
2008-2009: $90.15
2009-2010: $124.10
On Tuesday, the Hollister City Council voted unanimously for the rate hikes. Rates can go significantly lower if residential housing growth keeps pace with projections, but even the best case scenario leaves Hollister residents paying more than double what residents of nearby cities pay.
