Featured Analysis
By Laljeet Sangha, Ph.D
UC Cooperative Extension Advisor – UCCE Kern County
As communities across California work to upgrade aging wastewater infrastructure, affordability is becoming an increasingly important issue. In this analysis, Dr. Laljeet Sangha examines the potential household impacts of Bakersfield’s proposed sewer rate increases and explores how affordability burdens may vary across communities within the service area.
Using publicly available income and census data, the analysis examines wastewater affordability thresholds, geographic patterns of impact, income growth assumptions, and the broader challenge of balancing infrastructure investment with household affordability and customer protections.
📖 Read the full analysis by Dr. Laljeet Sangha
About the Contributor
Dr. Laljeet Sangha is the Assistant Community Water Systems and Supply Advisor with University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), serving Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties. His work focuses on drinking water, agricultural water systems, groundwater sustainability, water policy, and community resilience