Arcata schedules Feb. 25 open house on water and sewer rate hikes

Arcata will host an Open House Informational Meeting on proposed water and wastewater rate increases on February 25, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street, Arcata CA 95521, a city notice says. The session is part of the statutorily required Prop 218 process tied to the Arcata 2025 Water and Wastewater Rate Study and the city's released five-year rate schedule.

The city posted that "The City has completed a rate study and has released the proposed rate schedule for the next 5 fiscal years." The study, prepared by Bartle Wells Associates, presents a package that the City says "reflects a significant increase to water rates and delayed more moderate increases to the wastewater rates over the 5-year period."

City documents cite multiple drivers for the proposed increases. The rate study language lists environmental rules as a principal factor, stating that "Stricter environmental regulations such as those regarding water quality, nutrient limits, etc. requires utilities to invest in treatment systems and technology to meet these new standards." The city also points to cost pressures, noting that "The City’s water and wastewater enterprises face ongoing operating cost inflation due to annual increases in a range of expenses including staffing, utilities, insurance, supplies, etc." City notices add that aging pipelines and equipment mean the system "requires a steady stream of repair, improvement, and replacement projects."

Arcata frames the increases within legal and financial constraints. The rate study reiterates that "By law, the City may not collect more revenue than is necessary to cover the annual costs to provide these services, including all costs and revenues related to operational programs and the capital improvement program (CIP)." Pub-arcata meeting materials emphasize that utilities are self-supporting: "These utilities are self-supporting and rely on service charge revenue to meet annual funding needs," and that "All revenues generated from utility bills are used to maintain and operate the water and wastewater systems and cannot be used for any other purpose." The city lists specific cost categories that rates must cover, including utility staffing, raw water purchases, electricity, treatment, system maintenance, and capital improvement costs.

The Prop 218 calendar includes a tentative Public Hearing set for April 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Arcata City Hall, 736 F Street, where "Customers, property owners, and community members are invited to attend the public hearing in person or observe the meeting on Zoom for an opportunity to participate, learn the details of, and comment on the proposed rate changes." Supporting files posted by the city include Prop 218 Draft 1.15.26, Prop 218 Participation Guide.pdf, Arcata Water and Wastewater Rate Study - Draft 1.28.26, and two presentations dated 2.4.2026: City Presentation Water and Wastewater Rate Increases 2.4.2026 and BWA Presentation - City of Arcata WWW Rate Study 2.4.2026.

The City of Arcata invites residents, business owners and community members to attend the Feb. 25 workshop to "understand proposed changes," review the draft documents on the city's Arcata 2025 Water and Wastewater Rate Study page, and prepare for the April 15 public hearing when council consideration of written and oral input will advance the Prop 218 process.