Wastewater Engineering & Sewer Rates

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The Department's Wastewater Division collects, treats, and disposes of sewage for most of Old Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain. Sewage collected within these areas are sent to wastewater treatment plants operated by one of our partner agencies.

Sewer District Map

The Sewer District Map to the right shows the boundary delineation of the Cardiff Sanitary Division (CSD) and Encinitas Sanitary Division (ESD), which are the two sanitary divisions operated by the City. The Leucadia Wastewater District is responsible for sewage collection for most of New Encinitas and Leucadia. 

The Department's wastewater engineers are committed to serving our citizens by ensuring each project we undertake is designed to have a safe, reliable, and efficient sewage collection and transfer system. Additionally, these engineers develop and implement the City's wastewater capital improvement program (CIP), which covers the replacement and major rehabilitation of wastewater pipes and appurtenances.

Proposition 218 Notice

Pursuant to Article XIIID of the California Constitution (Proposition 218) the City of Encinitas City Council will hold a Public Hearing on April 24, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at 505 South Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas CA 92024 to consider proposed adjustments to sewer rates for the Cardiff Sanitary and Encinitas Sanitary Divisions. A copy of the Sewer Rate Study detailing the bases and reasons for the proposed rate increases is available below.

2024 City of Encinitas Sewer Rate Cost of Service Study

Proposition 218 Noticing Documents

Additional noticing documents for viewer's reference can be found below. These documents are delineated between CSD and ESD (please refer to the map above if you are unsure whether you are serviced by either CSD or ESD) and include the proposed ordinance language, the Fiscal Year 2025 proposed sewer rates, and the Proposition 218 Notice that was sent to all residents within the CSD/ESD service area. 

CSD - Ordinance 2024-02

CSD - FY25 Sewer Rates - Exhibit A

CSD - 2024 Proposition 218 Notice

ESD - Ordinance 2024-02

ESD - FY25 Sewer Rates - Exhibit A

ESD - 2024 Proposition 218 Notice

Sewer Rates (7/1/2023-6/30/2024)

Residents of CSD and ESD pay only for the costs of collection, treatment, and maintenance of the existing wastewater system. Sewer service charges are billed on the annual property tax bill. The charge is calculated based upon a percentage of water use at the property. A pre-determined percentage is subtracted to account for outdoor uses such as landscaping and irrigation. 

Future wastewater facilities (pipelines, manholes, pump stations, etc.) will be needed to accommodate future growth of the City. The cost of these future facilities is paid for by property developers through capacity fees, which are fees collected prior to development to account for the added wastewater discharge entering the sewer system. Capacity fees are based upon the amount and strength of wastewater discharged to the system.

Current Sewer Rates

Wastewater Planning & Design Documents

The Department utilizes various guidance documents to appropriately analyze and design the wastewater system. These range from City-generated to regionally-generated sources. Click the links below to access these documents.

2022 Sewer Master Plan

2022 Sewer System Management Plan

2009 City of Encinitas Engineering Design Manual

2022 San Diego Regional Standard Drawings