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VENTURA — The City of Ventura has mailed Proposition 218 notices to all Ventura Water customers and property owners to inform them about proposed adjustments to water and wastewater rates.
With critical upgrades needed to aging systems and new state requirements ahead, Ventura Water is updating its rates to ensure reliable service for years to come.
Approximately every five years, independent financial and rate experts analyze system needs and develop rates that are adequate, fair, and cost justified. This process ensures Ventura Water can maintain reliable service, meet legal requirements, and prepare for future needs.
“Ventura Water is committed to transparency and to maintaining a safe, reliable water system,” said Gina Dorrington, Ventura Water General Manager. “These rate adjustments are needed to upgrade aging infrastructure, meet state and federal requirements, and secure a local, drought-proof water supply for our community.”
The proposed rate adjustments will fund essential investments that strengthen system reliability and sustainability. These include replacing aging pipelines, pumps, and facilities to maintain dependable service and improve climate resilience; repairing and replacing critical components of Ventura’s 70-year-old wastewater treatment plant through the Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Project; connecting Ventura to the regional water system through the State Water Interconnection Project to enhance water quality, diversify supply, and increase reliability during dry years; and developing VenturaWaterPure, a legally-required new drought-proof and locally controlled water source that is not dependent on rainfall.
If adopted, the new rates would take effect on July 1, 2026. For a typical single-family household using 8 hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water per month, the combined monthly bill for water and wastewater service would increase by approximately $20 in Fiscal Year 2027, with subsequent increases. Actual changes will vary based on individual water use. Customers are encouraged to use Ventura Water’s online bill calculator to estimate their specific charges.
Ventura Water also offers customer assistance programs to help eligible households manage their bills, including a 50 percent discount on the monthly water service charge for qualifying customers. Information and eligibility criteria are available at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Rates.
This fall, Ventura Water will host several opportunities for customers to learn more about the proposed adjustments, explore planned infrastructure improvements, and understand what VenturaWaterPure means for the community. Facility tours will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, and Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. at 1400 Spinnaker Drive. A Virtual Community Open House will also be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 p.m., with a link available at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Rates.
The Ventura City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the Wright Event Center, 57 Day Road, Ventura, CA 93003, to consider adoption of the proposed water and wastewater rates. Written protests must be received before the close of the hearing to be counted; instructions are included in the Proposition 218, available in English and Spanish.
Customers may also request a presentation for their neighborhood, business, or community group to learn more about the proposed rate adjustments and related projects.
For more information, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Rates or contact Ventura Water Customer Care at (805) 667-6500.