Service rates
The Bear Valley Water District provides wastewater service — including collection, treatment and disposal — to residential and business customers within the District's boundaries. The District's most recent service rates became effective in 2022, and the capacity charge paid by new connections was revised in 2018.
Residential rates
Single-family dwellings and condominiums are charged a flat monthly rate and billed quarterly.
| Residential (per EDU) | Monthly | Quarterly |
|---|---|---|
| Single family, multi-family | $118.30 | $354.90 |
Non-residential rates
Users other than residential users are charged their actual water usage at a cost per gallon, or the commercial minimum monthly charge, whichever is greater.
| Commercial (per gallon) | Current | Minimum Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Retail / Commercial / Restaurant / Hotel / Resort | $0.083 | $118.30 |
How rates are set
A Wastewater Cost of Service Rate Study was conducted on behalf of the District by Bartle Wells Associates and the California Rural Water Association. The District's Board of Directors formally accepted this study at a regularly scheduled meeting on March 22, 2022. The study recommended increasing sewer service rates to address forecasts for rising expenditures to support operations and maintenance of the wastewater system, while maintaining sufficient operational, improvement and emergency reserves. Earlier rates were approved under the 1996 “Right to Vote on Taxes Act” (Prop 218) following public hearings in 2014, with an inflation adjustment approved in 2019.
Capacity charges
All applications for new or additional sewer service must submit a fully completed written application (“Connection Application”) for each connection requested, together with payment of the following:
| Charge | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $100 | Per application (residential & commercial) |
| Inspection Fee | $100 | Per application (residential & commercial) |
| Capacity Charge — Residential | $7,370 | Per residential application |
| Capacity Charge — Commercial | Fixture Load × $7,370 ÷ 24 | Per equivalent drainage fixture unit* |
*Subject to Article IV, Section 2.C, the capacity charge for each non-residential connection permitted by the District is proportionately rated to a 24-fixture-unit residence following the Equivalent Drainage Fixture Unit Table in the current edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code. The capacity charge for any non-residential connection that the District determines may generate a high waste volume or impose high BOD loading is established by the Board of Directors based on projected flow and BOD load as determined by the District's Engineer or Manager.
Capacity charges are derived from an analysis of capacity in the District's system (how many equivalent dwelling units the collection, treatment and disposal system can support) along with the total cost of District improvements, escalated to reflect the impact of inflation on assets over time. The 1978 Alpine County Master Plan describes the approved projects in the District's service area and provides the basis for the District's capacity projections.
Questions about your rate or a new connection? Call the District at 209.753.2112, or review how to apply for service.
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