Hemet to see drastic water and sewage increases

Residents in Hemet will see drastic changes to their water and sewage rates. Rates are expected to increase 19 percent beginning in October, another 19 percent in March, a 4 percent increase in January 2017 and a 3 percent hike each January through 2020.

City officials say the water rate increases are because rate increases haven’t taken place since 2008, while sewage rates haven’t increased since 2006.

Residents would no longer see a tiered rate based on usage. Instead, the price of water will be the same across the board. On top of that, the city is proposing making bills due every month, instead of how it’s done currently on a bimonthly basis.

Hemet’s water department serves more than 20,000 people in a 5.25 square mile area.