Sewer Rate Increases Now Showing on Billing Statements

Residents and schools in Grand Terrace have noticed an increase in their bi-monthly sewer bills from Burrtec. The company, which also provides trash service to the city, recently added costs of a sewer rate increase that actually took effect in September 2014 but was not included until this month. “After entering into several agreements with the City of Colton and Colton Wastewater to lease and maintain the city’s public sewer system, the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a series of sewer service rate increases,” Interim City Manager Carol Jacobs said. “These were necessary to recover projected costs of providing wastewater services and to ensure the safe collection, treatment and disposing of Grand Terrace sewage.” The increases followed a series of publicly noticed meetings and public input; however, Burrtec was not made aware of the increase. The city apologizes profusely for that oversight. The company’s current March through April bill for residents includes the new sewer rate and a one-time retroactive billing to capture the increased fees from September 2014 to February 2015. The City of Colton has taken over commercial and industrial billing from Riverside Highland Water Company and will be contacting customers soon to detail its plans for capturing retroactive and as yet unbilled sewer fees. Nominal increases will go into effect July 1, 2015, July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017. Each increase is less than $1 per month for residential, and commercial/industrial customers.