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ATTACHMENT 5 <br /> THE CITY OF <br /> I , <br /> PLEASANTON. <br /> Pleasanton Water Rates/Public Hearing Notice <br /> Frequently Asked Questions <br /> Q: Why do Pleasanton's water rates need to be increased so much? <br /> A: The City of Pleasanton is committed to providing safe, reliable drinking water and this <br /> increase will ensure that funds are in place to manage a variety of water supply and quality <br /> issues. The primary purpose of the immediate rate adjustment is to fund near-term projects <br /> that will allow for the delivery of additional water from Zone 7 to reduce reliance on <br /> Pleasanton's groundwater wells while a longer-term solution to PFAS is developed and <br /> implemented. <br /> Rates have only been adjusted for inflation since 2011, except for 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022 <br /> when there weren't any increases at all.These inflationary increases do not account for capital <br /> projects such as infrastructure repairs and improvements. <br /> The City understands that the proposed rate increase is significant, but after years of minimal <br /> or no increases, the current rates simply aren't enough to address critical issues such as PFAS <br /> and aging infrastructure. <br /> Q: Why doesn't the City wait to increase water rates until a PFAS solution is selected? <br /> A: The proposed rate increases will fund near-term projects, allow for several maintenance and <br /> repair projects, and replenish the Water Enterprise reserve funds. The many years with no, or <br /> minimal, rate adjustments have caught up with the Water Enterprise fund and now require <br /> more significant increases. While a portion of the revenue generated from the proposed rate <br /> increases is earmarked to begin the design of a long-term PFAS solution, a majority of the <br /> revenue is slated for current projects, not the long-term PFAS solution. <br /> Following the selection of a long-term PFAS solution this fall and the completion of the Water <br /> System Master Plan later this year, the City will begin work on another water rate study that <br /> will focus on these future and long-term projects. <br /> Q: What will the revenue from the proposed rate increase pay for? <br /> A: The proposed water rate increase is intended to accomplish several critical outcomes: <br /> • Immediate/near-term essential system upgrades, including pipe expansion projects <br /> (Stoneridge Drive, Bernal Avenue and Sunol Boulevard) and a temporary booster pump <br /> that are underway. <br /> Page 1 1 <br />