Rates & Metering

We have all the information you need about rates and water meters. You can even sign up to receive a notice if your water usage is higher than normal.

In partnership with District Councilmembers, DC Water co-hosted its 4th annual ward town hall meeting series during March and April. As in previous years, DC Water General Manager George Hawkins toured the District to talk about water projects and issues impacting communities throughout the city. More than 300 residents from the District's 8 wards attended this year's meetings.

Following the town hall meetings, the DC Water Board of Directors will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments, 777 North Capitol Street, NE at 6:30 pm. You are encouraged to attend this important hearing and testify in person about our service, our goals and our rate proposal. To sign up to testify at the hearing, or to submit comments, please email Lmanley@dcwater.com, fax 202-787-2795 or mail the Board Secretary, 5000 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20032.

For more information on the FY 2013 Approved Operating and Capital Budgets, please visit this link.

Proposed 2014 Rates

Fig. 3 in Ccf and equivalent gallons 1Ccf = 748 gallons
Proposed FY 2014 (Effective 10/1/2013)
Rate Class Ccf (hundred cubic feet) 1,000 Gallons
Water Rate  
  Residential $3.61 $4.83
  Multi-Family $3.61 $4.83
  Non-Residential $3.61 $4.83
Sewer Rate  
  Residential $4.41 $5.89
  Multi-Family $4.41 $5.89
  Non-Residential $4.41 $5.89
PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) Fee  
  Residential $0.53 $0.71
  Multi-Family $0.53 $0.71
  Non-Residential $0.53 $0.71
The Right of Way (ROW) Fee  
  Residential $0.17 $0.22
  Multi-Family $0.17 $0.22
  Non-Residential $0.17 $0.22
Groundwater Sewer Charge*  
  Residential $2.33 $3.11
  Multi-Family $2.33 $3.11
  Non-Residential $2.33 $3.11
  per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit)
Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge  
  Residential $12.77
  Multi-Family $12.77
  Non-Residential $12.77
Stormwater Fee  
  Residential $2.67
  Multi-Family $2.67
  Non-Residential $2.67


Fig. 4 Proposed Average Monthly Residential Water and Sewer Bill for 2014*
  FY 2014 †
DC Water Retail Rates* $53.65
Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge $12.77
DC Water Customer Metering Fee** $3.86
Subtotal DC Water Rates & Charges $70.28
Increase Over Prior Year $6.01
District of Columbia PILOT Fee* $3.55
District of Columbia Right of Way Fee* $1.14
District of Columbia Stormwater Fee* $2.67
Subtotal District of Columbia Charges $7.36
Total Amount Appearing on DC Water Bill $77.64
Increase Over Prior Year $6.28

*Assumes average monthly consumption of 6.69 Ccf or 5,004 gallons.

**The DC Water Customer Metering Fee varies by meter size. The fee given here is the lowest fee and operates as a baseline.

† FY 2014 is effective October 1, 2013

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Current Rates

Fig. 1 in Ccf and equivalent gallons 1Ccf = 748 gallons
FY 2013 (Effective 10/1/2012)
Rate Class Ccf (hundred cubic feet) 1,000 Gallons
Water Rate  
  Residential $3.42 $4.83
  Non-Residential $3.42 $4.83
Sewer Rate  
  Residential $4.18 $5.59
  Non-Residential $4.18 $5.59
PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) Fee  
  Residential $0.50 $0.67
  Non-Residential $0.50 $0.67
The Right of Way (ROW) Fee  
  Residential $0.16 $0.21
  Non-Residential $0.16 $0.21
Groundwater Sewer Charge*  
  Residential $2.33 $3.11
  Non-Residential $2.33 $3.11
  per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit)
Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge  
  Residential $9.57
  Non-Residential $9.57
Stormwater Fee  
  Residential $2.67
  Non-Residential $2.67

*For commercial properties that are under construction.

Fig. 2 Projected Average Monthly Residential Water and Sewer Bill for 2013*
  FY 2013 †
DC Water Retail Rates* $50.84
Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge $9.57
DC Water Customer Metering Fee** $3.86
Subtotal DC Water Rates & Charges $64.27
Increase Over Prior Year $5.60
District of Columbia PILOT Fee* $3.35
District of Columbia Right of Way Fee* $1.07
District of Columbia Stormwater Fee* $2.67
Subtotal District of Columbia Charges $7.09
Total Amount Appearing on DC Water Bill $71.36
Increase Over Prior Year $5.74

*Assumes average monthly consumption of 6.69 Ccf or 5,004 gallons.

**The DC Water Customer Metering Fee varies by meter size. The fee given here is the lowest fee and operates as a baseline.

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Understanding Rates

DC Water bills residential, commercial and government customers on a monthly basis. The water and sewer bills incorporate DC Water charges and District of Columbia charges together on the same bill. The District of Columbia charges are collected by DC Water, who in turn, passes those fees on to the District. The District fees include PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes), ROW (right-of-way) and stormwater.

DC Water charges for water, sewer, customer metering and impervious area. Water and sewer charges are billed volumetrically, that is, they are based on how much water a household or business consumes. The Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC) is a sewer fee that takes into account the area on a property that is made of impermeable surface, which contributes to runoff and combined sewer overflows. The CRIAC generates funds to cover the cost of the Clean Rivers Project (also referred to as the Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan detailed under the "What We Do" section of this website,) a $2.6 billion capital project mandated by the federal government. The customer metering fee is a flat fee based on the meter's size.

How rates are set

Rates are set annually through a year-long process that begins with DC Water developing a budget based on capital and operating needs. Once the budget is approved by the Board of Directors, a rate structure is proposed and communicated via the DC Register, newspapers, town hall public meetings and a public hearing. These are all opportunities for the public to comment on the proposed rates. The DC Water Board of Directors votes on the rate proposal in July, to be implemented in the October bill.

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