The Cost of Service and Rate Study was completed by an independent rate consultant, Hildebrand, LLC. Hildebrand LLC prepared a multi-year financial plan and cost of service analysis to:

• Develop a multi-year financial plan showing how the District will fund day-to-day operations and major capital projects over time.

• Recommend annual adjustments to Sewer Service Charges to ensure sufficient revenue to meet ongoing operational and financial obligations.

• Analyze the cost of providing sewer service using fair, consistent, and industry-accepted cost of service methodologies.

• Recommend updates to the District’s rate structure to ensure costs are recovered equitably and in compliance with industry standards and applicable California law.

• Update Sewer Capacity Charges (connection fees) to ensure new development pays its fair share for the sewer infrastructure that will serve it.

The District’s goal is not to have the lowest rate compared to neighboring agencies. The District’s goal is to have the lowest responsible sewer rate in order to efficiently and effectively operate and maintain the system to protect public health and the environment.

See the survey below from the 2025 Cost of Service and Rate Study for a comparison of the District’s (FSSD) current and proposed rate compared to surrounding agencies.

The average residential household produces approximately 178.3 gallons per day of wastewater. This includes water from showers, toilets, laundry, dishwashers, sinks, and general cleaning.

178.3 gallons per day is roughly equal to:

• Two full bathtubs of water per day, or
• Three standard 55-gallon drums

At the proposed residential rate starting July 1, 2026 ($54.91 per month), the cost to treat this wastewater is about $1.81 per day.

($54.91 x 12 months) / 365 days

Anheuser Busch has been a significant industrial customer for the District. The Cost of Service and Rate Study was completed in November 2025, before Anheuser Busch provided the community with their closure notice.

Anheuser Busch is a significant industrial customer for the District. The District treats approximately 153.9 million gallons of wastewater per year from Anheuser Busch with annual sewer revenues of approximately $1.2 million.

The District is not revising the Cost of Service and Rate Study at this time. Instead, the District will manage the impacts through the annual budget process and long-term financial planning, including continued review of its ten year Capital Improvement Program to determine whether future projects should be delayed or rescheduled.

The District serves a population of approximately 150,000 residents of the City of Fairfield and City of Suisun City, with approximately 39,000 sewer accounts made up of residential, commercial, and commercial / industrial case-by-case customers.

Different customer types place different demands on the sewer system based on how much wastewater they produce and how strong that wastewater is. The study analyzed billing data and wastewater characteristics to assign costs fairly. As a result, each customer class pays rates based on its share of system use.

Rates fund:

• Treatment plant operations
• Sewer pipe maintenance and replacement
• Regulatory compliance
• Emergency response
• Long-term investment in nearly $1 billion of aging infrastructure, much of which is 50+ years old 
• Required operating and capital reserves to ensure financial stability and system reliability

Sewer rate increases are proposed to:

• Maintain and replace aging infrastructure
• Meet existing and new regulatory requirements
• Address rising cost pressures for energy, chemicals, construction, and labor
• Fund the District’s long-term Capital Improvement Program
• Ensure long-term system reliability for a critical 24/7 service

Yes. Revenues from sewer rates are legally restricted and may only be used for wastewater-related purposes, consistent with California law.

If there is no majority protest or valid legal objection to the rates, the new sewer rates will go into effect for all residents and business customers on July 1, 2026. This will replace the final year of the currently-adopted five-year rate schedule.

A majority protest occurs when more than 50% of affected parcels submit valid written protests opposing the proposed rates. If a majority protest exists, the rates cannot be adopted.

A protest is different than an objection. For more information, refer to the Participate in the Process section.

No. Oral comments do not count as protests unless they are submitted in writing and meet the legal requirements for a Proposition 218 protest.

For more information, see the Participate in the Process section, including a sample protest letter.

Yes. Submitting a written objection does not replace or count as a Proposition 218 protest. Each process serves a different legal purpose, and customers are allowed under California law to submit one or both.

The District manages it’s costs by:

• Finding energy-saving solutions – the District’s new cogeneration engine is anticipated to save ~$1.0 million per year in electricity costs.
• Conducting preventative maintenance – Preventative maintenance helps maintain the system and reduce costly emergency repairs.
• Creating an efficient Capital Improvement Program – bundling capital projects together can save costs and create efficiencies in completing projects.
• Looking for rate equity with projects – while the District prefers to use reserves rather than debt, some projects are so large and long-lasting that funding them entirely upfront would unfairly burden current customers. In those cases, financing costs over time helps ensure equitable cost-sharing across generations of ratepayers.

The District is primarily funded by sewer rate revenue. Under Proposition 218, sewer rates must be based on the cost of providing service and cannot be used to subsidize one customer class over another. As a result, the District cannot offer discounted sewer rates for low-income, senior, or disabled customers.

Many agencies fund assistance programs through General Fund revenues, such as property tax, which are not subject to Proposition 218 restrictions. Because the District does not receive property tax revenue, it is unable to offer bill assistance programs for sewer service.

Although the District cannot directly provide financial assistance using sewer rate revenues, other resources may be available to Fairfield and Suisun City residents through regional or county programs for non-sewer services, including:

• City of Fairfield Low Income Senior/Disabled Water Refund – Applications are accepted January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026.
• Solano County CalWORKs – CalWORKs is a public assistance program that provides cash aid and services to eligible families that have a child(ren) in the home. If a family has little or no cash and needs housing, food, utilities, clothing or medical care, they may be eligible to receive immediate short-term help. Families that apply and qualify for ongoing assistance receive money each month to help pay for housing, food and other necessary expenses.
• Solano County Utility Resources – An overview of resources available in Solano County for general assistance, internet, PG&E discount and payment assistance, and medical equipment resources.