SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

The City Council on Tuesday approved a $27.7-million master plan for improvements to city water systems. The plan--a first for the city, where some water systems date from 1955--will be funded by an increase in water rates over the next 22 years. Residents currently pay about $33 per month; by comparison, San Clemente residents pay about $42 for about the same amount of water. In 2020, the average San Juan Capistrano resident would pay about $39 per month. Much of the $27.7 million will go toward the construction of new pipes and connections, six new reservoirs that will hold an additional 10 million gallons and upgrades to city pumping stations.