The annual water quality report for 2025 is available here. It was mailed with the March invoices and will be emailed to all customers that receive e-bills. If you have any questions about the report, please email me at info@lakealpinewater.com.
Water Quality
During 2025, LAWC fulfilled EPA and State Division of Drinking Water requirements by sampling Bear Lake for PFAS. PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals” and are a persistent group of chemical compounds that can be found in water sources, especially ground water. As a surface water source, Bear Lake had to be sampled quarterly for one year. LAWC collected quarterly samples in 2025. Thankfully, all samples collected had no detectable concentration of PFAS.
Also in 2025, as required by the State Division of Drinking Water, LAWC sampled Bear Lake for Hexavalent Chromium. The Bear Lake sample collected had no detectable concentration of Hexavalent Chromium. LAWC will continue to sample annually as required.
The PFAS sampling was a one-time expense and was not included in the last General Rate Case that LAWC filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2024. The lab costs for 4 quarterly samples were $4200. LAWC has submitted a request to the CPUC to recover those expenses through a customer surcharge. If granted, the surcharge will be distributed on the March invoice as detailed below:
Customer Type One-Time PFAS Surcharge
For 5/8 SFH meter $7.67
For condo unit $7.67
For 3/4-inch meter $11.51
For 1-inch meter $19.18
For 1-1/2-inch meter $38.36
For 2-inch meter $61.37
For 3-inch meter $115.07
For 4-inch meter $191.78
Next General Rate Case
LAWC completed its last general rate filing to the CPUC almost two years ago in February 2024. Those rates went into effect in December 2024 and were adjusted by the Consumer Price Index in June 2025. As many of you are also experiencing, LAWC’s insurance rates dramatically rose during 2025. Other costs have increased, too. In order to keep up with expenses and to continue infrastructure improvements and repairs, LAWC has submitted for a general rate review by the CPUC during 2026.
California Public Utilities Commission Process
The CPUC staff will make a thorough review of LAWC’s request. Following the review, the CPUC may grant LAWC’s request in whole, in part, or may deny it. It may also order the utility to charge rates different from those submitted by LAWC. After the initial review has been completed and rates are drafted, a notice to customers will be sent and a public hearing will be scheduled. LAWC will keep you informed with inserts and enclosures accompanying future invoices.
Annual Water Quality Report
The 2025 annual Water Quality report will be mailed to all customers with the April 2026 invoices. This summary of completed water quality sampling provides important information about Bear Lake and finished water quality as well as the annual budget breakdown and completed summer projects.
Consumer Price Index annual rate increase: On June 11, the California Public Utilities Commission approved to increase the service rates by the annual consumer price index of 2.90%. The residential service fee increased from $112.16 to $115.41 per month. The metered water fee increased from $9.92 per CCF to $10.21 per CCF.
Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SDWSRF) surcharge decrease: On June 4, the California Public Utilities Commission approved to decrease the customer SDWSRF surcharges. The SDWSRF surcharges are remitted each month to the state’s fiscal agent to retire the low interest loan that funded the treatment plant improvements 2005. The loan will be fully repaid in 2028. The SDWSRF surcharge decreased from $24.07 to $22.95 per month.
These rates became effective on June 1 after the June invoices were sent. There is a one-time adjustment of $2.13 on the enclosed July invoice to account for the $3.25 June service rate increase and the -$1.12 June SDWSRF surcharge decrease. Going forward the new monthly residential fees will be $139.30. This is a 1.54% increase.
For updates about Bear Lake, summer repairs, and more click here.
The annual water quality report for 2024 is available here. It will be mailed with the April invoices and will be emailed to all customers that receive e-bills. If you have any questions about the report, please email me at info@lakealpinewater.com.
Hello, here is a customer notice about the status of the initial lead service line inventory completed in October 2024. The remainder of unknown lines will be field verified by August 31, 2025.
Summer projects completed, details about the rate increase application to the CPUC, Winter reminders and more, click here.
A public hearing has been scheduled for customers of Lake Alpine Water regarding its application to the California Public Utilities Commission to increase service rates.
In March 2024, Lake Alpine Water Company (LAWC) filed for authorization from the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) through Advice Letter 142 to increase the water service charge by 11.1%.
The last general rate increase became effective October 11, 2018, by Resolution W-5175. The rates were subsequently adjusted in 2020, 2022, and 2023 by the Consumer Price Index.
Monthly Residential Changes
Quantity Rate: Present Rates Proposed Rates
All usage per 100 cu.ft. (CCF) $ 9.08 $ 10.90
Residential Service Charge: Present Rates Proposed Rates
For 5/8×3/4-inch meter $ 99.63 $ 110.69
For 1- inch meter $ 249.06 $ 276.72
Summary
The Annual Service Charge is applicable to all metered services regardless of water use. The quantity rate is multiplied by metered water used and added to the service charge. All customers also pay the Safe Drinking Water State Fund surcharge, currently $24.07 per month per residence. This surcharge will expire in 2028. The Commission regulatory oversight fee is 0.07% of all these charges.
The average bill for a metered residential customer consuming 2.0 CCF per month would increase from $142.85 to $157.65, or 10.4%.
Lake Alpine Water Company and the California Public Utilities Commission will host a public hearing on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the Cathedral Lounge in the Bear Valley Lodge. This is an opportunity to ask questions about your water service and to discuss the rate request with the commission.
Bear Lake, our source and our favorite community lake. Help us take care of it this summer. Thanks! Click here for details.
Each year a water quality report is produced as a summary of all the water sampling results. A copy is posted here. It will also be sent with the April invoice either by post or email.