Water/Sewer/Stormwater Rates for Fiscal Years 2023-2025
Note: The City of Baltimore fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Rate increases take effect:
- July 1, 2023
- July 1, 2024
- July 1, 2025
Rate adjustment approved
June 15, 2022, the Baltimore City Board of Estimates (BOE) approved the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) and Department of Finance’s request for a 3-year rate adjustment for monthly water, sewer and stormwater charges.
BOE approved a 3.0% increase for Water, 3.5% increase for Sewer, and 3.0% for Stormwater service. The rate adjustments represent the lowest rate increase since 1998.
| Fund | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Wastewater | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Stormwater | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
Monthly rates
The water and wastewater rate increases apply to two components, fixed charges and volumetric charges.
Fixed charge components
Every customer is charged a monthly:
- Account Management fee to cover the costs of Customer Support.
- Infrastructure Fee to cover a portion of the capital costs for providing water and sewer services. This fee is based on meter size.
- Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fee.
Monthly water billing is set by meter size and is billed until the water account at the property is formally closed.
Variable rate components - includes volumetric charges
- Water consumption (a volumetric charge) is charged in CCF (100 Cubic Feet). 1 CCF equals 748 Gallons.
- Stormwater charges are based on the amount of impervious area on a property. Impervious areas do not allow water to pass through. Examples are paved areas like sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots.
| FIXED CHARGE COMPONENTS | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | ||||||
| Water | Sewer | Water | Sewer | Water | Sewer | |||
| VARIABLE RATE COMPONENTS | ||||||||
| STORMWATER CHARGE | ||||||||
| Effective: | July 1, 2022 | July 1, 2023 | July 1, 2024 | |||||
| Account Management Fee (per bill) | $4.46 | $4.59 | $4.73 | |||||
| Infrastructure Charge | per month | per month | per month | per month | per month | per month | ||
| Meter Size | ||||||||
| 5/8" | $13.48 | $11.28 | $13.89 | $11.68 | $14.31 | $12.09 | ||
| 3/4" | $24.24 | $20.28 | $24.97 | $20.99 | $25.72 | $21.73 | ||
| 1" | $53.85 | $45.06 | $55.47 | $46.64 | $57.14 | $48.28 | ||
| 1-1/2" | $94.22 | $78.83 | $97.05 | $81.59 | $99.97 | $84.45 | ||
| 2" | $215.36 | $180.17 | $221.83 | $186.48 | $228.49 | $193.01 | ||
| 3" | $376.84 | $315.28 | $388.15 | $326.32 | $399.80 | $337.75 | ||
| 4" | $861.34 | $720.58 | $887.19 | $745.81 | $913.81 | $771.92 | ||
| 6" | $1,547.70 | $1,294.79 | $1,594.14 | $1,340.11 | $1,641.97 | $1,387.02 | ||
| 8" | $2,422.47 | $2,026.61 | $2,495.15 | $2,097.55 | $2,570.01 | $2,170.97 | ||
| 10" | $3,431.84 | $2,871.01 | $3,534.80 | $2,971.50 | $3,640.85 | $3,075.51 | ||
| 12" | $6,123.46 | $5,122.78 | $6,307.17 | $5,302.08 | $6,496.39 | $5,847.66 | ||
| per Ccf | per Ccf | per Ccf | per Ccf | per Ccf | per Ccf | |||
| Volumetric Rate (all units) | $3.74 | $9.81 | $3.85 | $10.15 | $3.97 | $10.51 | ||
| Stormwater Charge (per ERU) | $6.70 | $6.95 | $7.20 | |||||
| Tier 1 Residential | $4.45 | $4.60 | $4.80 | |||||
| Tier 2 Residential:ERU | $6.70 | $6.95 | $7.20 | |||||
| Tier 3 Residential | $13.40 | $13.90 | $14.40 | |||||
Impact on your monthly bill
| CUSTOMER BILL IMPACTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Charges for 5/8" meter and CcF | ||||||
| FY 2022 | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | |||
| Current | Proposed | Proposed | Proposed | |||
| Account Management Fee | $4.33 | $4.46 | $4.59 | $4.73 | ||
| Water Infrastructure Charge | $13.08 | $13.48 | $13.89 | $14.31 | ||
| Water Volume Charge | $21.78 | $22.44 | $23.10 | $23.82 | ||
| Sewer Infrastructure Change | $10.89 | $11.28 | $11.68 | $12.09 | ||
| Sewer Volume Charges | $56.88 | $58.86 | $60.90 | $63.06 | ||
| Stormwater Charge | $6.50 | $6.70 | $6.95 | $7.20 | ||
| Bay Restoration Fee | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | ||
| Total Bill | $118.46 | $122.22 | $126.11 | $130.21 | ||
Additional information
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Water and Wastewater Billing Information
- Water Bill Payment Assistance Programs
- FY23-25 Utility Rates
- DPW Presents Lowest Water/Sewer/Stormwater Rates Proposal to Board of Estimates in Decades
Historic rate increases
| HISTORIC RATE INCREASES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Water | Wastewater | Stormwater |
| June-98 | 8.00% | 8.00% | |
| May-00 | 19.00% | 15.00% | |
| Apr-02 | 16.00% | 10.00% | |
| Apr-03 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Apr-04 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Apr-05 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Apr-06 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Apr-07 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| May-08 | 4.00% | 4.00% | |
| June-09 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Jul-10 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Jul-11 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Jul-12 | 9.00% | 9.00% | |
| Jul-13 | 15.00% | 15.00% | |
| Jul-14 | 11.00% | 11.00% | |
| Jul-15 | 11.00% | 11.00% | 0.00% |
| Oct-16 | 9.90% | 9.90% | 0.00% |
| Jul-17 | 9.90% | 9.90% | 0.00% |
| Jul-18 | 9.90% | 9.90% | 0.00% |
| Jul-19 | 9.90% | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Oct-20 | 9.90% | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Jul-21 | 9.90% | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Jul-22 | 3.00% | 3.50% | 3.00% |
| Jul-23 | 3.00% | 3.50% | 3.00% |
| Jul-24 | 3.00% | 3.50% | 3.00% |
Fee types
| FEE TYPES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Fee | ||
| Abandonment 1 ½ “ and 2” | $716 | ||
| Abandonment 1” and below | $415 | ||
| Access to asset | $106 | ||
| Delinquent Turn-Off | $104 | ||
| Fire Flow Test | $820 | ||
| Fire Hydrant Permit | $191 | ||
| Fire Protection fee | $168 | ||
| Meter Testing – 2 | $109 | ||
| Meter Testing – 2” and Below | $109 | ||
| Reduce 1” Meter to ¾” Meter | $262 | ||
| Reduce 1” Meter to5/8 Meter | $262 | ||
| Reduce 2” Meter to 1 1/2 “ Meter | $1,245 | ||
| Reduce ¾” Meter to 5/8 “ Meter | $191 | ||
| Tampering Fee (1st Offense) | $106 | ||
| Tampering Fee (another 1st Offense) | $530 | ||
| Turn-Off-Large Meter – Above 2” | $165 | ||
| Turn-off Request By Owner (small meter) | $104 | ||
| Turn-on-Large Meter- Above 2” | $165 | ||
| Turn-on- Request by Owner (small meter) | $104 | ||
Questions or concerns?
We're here to help. Go to Customer Support. Water customers outside of Baltimore City may dial 410-396-5352 for assistance.