On Sept. 30, the San Diego City Council will take up the uncomfortable exercise of approving a 63 percent hike in water rates and a 31 percent hike in wastewater rates over the next four years. … The city, unsurprisingly as we’ve covered, blamed the San Diego County Water Authority for the majority of those costs. A presentation given to the City Council says 40 percent of a San Diegan’s water bill pays for the Colorado River water the Water Authority transports to the region. San Diego expects the Water Authority to heftily raise rates in 2026 and 2027. … Ally Berenter, deputy director of external affairs for the Public Utilities Department, explained that’s largely due to the rising cost of energy purchased from San Diego Gas and Electric and chemicals – both key to treating the water we flush away.