Cutting water usage during the rainy season lowers year-round sewer bills, in the Cardiff and Encinitas Sanitation Districts. Sewer charges are substantial, so cutting back landscape irrigation during January can produce real savings.

The approaching storm is expected to water our lawns, so take the opportunity to turn off your irrigation until the ground starts to dry up. ETA

There are disparities in sewer service charges across the City of Encinitas. The average ratepayer in Encinitas (ESD) and Cardiff Sanitation Districts (CSD) pays over twice what Leucadia Water District (LWD) ratepayers shell out. The maximum charge is the same as the average charge in Leucadia because they have a flat fee structure. Encinitas and Cardiff's charges are based on winter water usage.

The disparity can partially be explained by differences in decisions about how and when to achieve secondary sewage treatment. Those decisions, made decades ago, resulted in different financing routes and associated long term financial consequences.

Both ESD and CSD are now run by the Encinitas City Council. LWD remains an independent district with elected board members.

Click here to see a blown up map of the districts.