Fontana Sewer Bills Rise Under Five-Year Rate Plan That Took Effect July 1
Fontana‘s first sewer-rate increase under a five-year plan took effect July 1, raising the regular city collection charge from $12.63 to $14.55 per equivalent dwelling unit per month.
The Fontana City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-068 on June 23, 2026. The resolution approves maximum sewer service charges for fiscal years 2026-27 through 2030-31, with the first scheduled customer-rate change beginning July 1, 2026.
What the first increase changes
For the rate study’s regular customer class, the Fontana collection portion is now $14.55 per month per equivalent dwelling unit, an increase of $1.92 from the previous $12.63 charge.
The city’s wastewater rate study lists a regular customer’s total monthly charge at $44 for fiscal year 2026-27 when the listed Inland Empire Utilities Agency treatment charge is included. The study lists the previous regular-customer total at $39.65.
The $44 figure is an example based on the regular customer class and the treatment amount used in the study. Sewer bills can differ by customer class, equivalent dwelling units and the agency providing treatment.
Fontana’s collection charge is separate from treatment charges assessed by IEUA or, where applicable, the City of Rialto. Those treatment amounts are passed through to customers and may change independently of Fontana’s collection schedule.
Additional increases are scheduled
The adopted maximum city collection charges for the regular customer class are scheduled to be:
- $16.01 effective July 1, 2027
- $17.61 effective July 1, 2028
- $19.37 effective July 1, 2029
- $21.31 effective July 1, 2030
These are future scheduled maximum collection charges, not amounts that all customers are already paying. The schedule runs through fiscal year 2030-31.
Why the council approved the plan
The council report and Raftelis rate study say existing rates would not fully cover the wastewater system’s operating expenses, capital needs and reserve targets. The study found that, without rate increases over the study period, the city’s sewer reserves would be fully depleted by fiscal year 2028 and the system would fail to meet its reserve target.
The rate plan is intended to provide phased revenue increases for operations and maintenance, capital replacement and improvement, debt obligations and reserve requirements. Those are the city’s and consultant’s stated financial findings supporting the rate adjustment.
Public hearing and protests
The rate change followed a Proposition 218 notice and public-hearing process. The council held the hearing on June 23, 2026, and the adopted resolution states that the city did not receive written protests from a majority of affected parcel owners or tenants directly liable for the charges.
The June 23 council action and the July 1 implementation date are separate parts of the process: the council adopted the resolution on June 23, while the first scheduled customer rate became effective July 1.
What Fontana customers should watch
Residents reviewing their bills should separate the Fontana collection charge from the treatment pass-through charge. For the regular customer example, the first-year city collection amount is $14.55 per month, while the study’s listed $44 total includes a separate treatment component.
Future treatment charges may change independently, so a customer’s total bill will not necessarily rise only according to Fontana’s collection schedule. Customers should check the applicable customer class, equivalent dwelling-unit calculation and treatment provider when comparing a bill with the figures in the city’s study.
Sources
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