Rates

Rate Ordinance

Water and sewer rates are established annually by ordinance and periodically evaluated. The ordinance calls for a minimum mandatory inflationary adjustment each year. The annual inflationary adjustments to water and sewer rates ensure that the WSU has sufficient resources to respond to maintenance items and system failures. This commitment protects the citizens’ enormous investment in the system, and ensures that the city can adequately treat effluent and provide quality drinking water. Rates can be increased more than this, depending on the operational, debt service and capital needs of the system.

Rates are a combination of a consumption charge and a fixed charge based on meter size. They are calculated and illustrated using a typical 6,000-gallon-per-month usage assumption. Residents are billed in 1,000-gallon increments, and may install an optional separate sprinkling meter to avoid sewage charges on water not entering the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

Water & Sewer Cost of Service Rate Study

On September 16, 2014 Burton and Associates completed a Final Report of the Water & Sewer Cost of Service Rate Study. This study was used to assist in setting the current water and sewer rates. As of July 1, 2023, rates are as follows: