Soaring San Diego Water Rates Force Avocado Produce Growers To Move

Avocado growers in San Diego have been facing a problem that has caused many of them to go out of business in recent years.

According to a report from KUSI, San Diego officials are looking to increase water rates by 5% starting January 2022.

The rate hike would also affect the city's Public Utilities Department (PUD) customers, raising their costs by 2%.

“The proposed rate increases come at a critical time for the city of San Diego with Pure Water’s promise on the horizon and the need to fix our aging pipes and mains so we can continue to provide reliable wastewater collection and treatment,” said Director of the PUD, Shauna Lorance. “We know many San Diegans are struggling financially due to the pandemic, so we tried to minimize the impact as much as possible with this plan, knowing that our rising costs are forcing us to propose increases in order to deliver the high-quality services San Diegans expect.”

But the rising cost of water has forced local farmers, who have been in the area for over a decade, to move or make quick adjustments to maximize water use.

San Diego has some of the highest water rates in Southern California and the entire country, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Water managers in agricultural areas like Fallbrook and Rainbow, where the Union-Tribune says water rates increase 8% a year on average, are attempting to secure cheaper water for farmers, businesses and homeowners.

The proposed water rate increases will receive a full City Council vote around mid-September, according to KUSI.

Photo: Getty Images


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