Water and Sewer Rates
Proposed FY20 Water & Sewer Rates Now Available
The FY20 rate proposal represents the following changes to the current rates:
- A 6% increase in water volumetric charges;
- A 7.5% increase in sewer volumetric charges;
- No change to existing base charges for both water and sewer; and,
- The creation of a discount rate for all rate payers billed tri-annually.
-
Proposed FY20 Residential & Commercial Rates
-
FY19 Residential & Commercial Rates
-
FY18 Residential & Commercial Rates
Proposed FY20 Residential & Commercial Rates
Information Session
An information session and public hearing was held at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 22 at the Somerville High School Cafeteria at 81 Highland Ave. Click here to view a PDF of the presentation slides from the information session.
Please note that you still have an opportunity to provide written testimony on this topic: Submit your comments to [email protected] before 6 p.m. on Monday, April 29.
Proposed Rates
Pursuant to Chapter 11, Section 11-125 and Section 11-164 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Somerville, the tables below outline the proposed water and sewer volumetric rates for the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20).
The table below describes the proposed residential tiers, which reflect the addition of a "discount' tier for any usage under 8 units (748 gallons per unit x 8 units, or 5,984 gallons of water).
For additional information about these proposed water and sewer rate changes, please see the rate recommendation memorandum from our consultant, Woodard & Curran.
Proposed FY20 Residential Volumetric Charges (Tri-Annual Bills)
|
Residential |
FY 2020 Volumetric Charges |
|||
|
Tier |
Usage |
Water |
Sewer |
Combined |
|
Discount Rate |
0-8 |
$3.95 |
$7.93 |
$11.88 |
|
T1 |
9-13 |
$4.39 |
$8.82 |
$13.21 |
|
T2 |
14-67 |
$6.33 |
$11.24 |
$17.57 |
|
T3 |
68-133 |
$6.64 |
$11.79 |
$18.43 |
| T4 | OVER 133 |
$6.89 |
$12.21 | $19.10 |
*One unit = 100 cubic feet (CCF) or 748 gallons of water
Proposed FY20 Commercial Volumetric Charges (Bi-Monthly Bills)
|
Commercial |
FY 2020 Volumetric Charges |
|||
|
Tier |
Usage |
Water |
Sewer |
Combined |
|
T1 |
0-10 |
$4.39 |
$8.82 |
$13.21 |
|
T2 |
11-100 |
$6.33 |
$11.24 |
$17.57 |
|
T3 |
101-200 |
$6.64 |
$11.79 |
$18.43 |
| T4 | OVER 200 |
$6.89 |
$12.21 | $19.10 |
*One unit = 100 cubic feet (CCF) or 748 gallons of water
FY19 Residential & Commercial Rates
|
Residential |
FY2019 Volumetric Charges ($/unit) |
|||
|
Tier |
Usage |
Water |
Sewer |
Combined |
|
1 |
0-13 |
$4.14 |
$8.20 |
$12.34 |
|
2 |
14-67 |
$5.97 |
$10.46 |
$16.43 |
|
3 |
68-133 |
$6.26 |
$10.97 |
$17.23 |
|
4 |
OVER 133 |
$6.50 |
$11.36 |
$17.86 |
(100 cubic feet is equal to 748 gallons)
|
Commercial |
FY2019 Volumetric Charges ($/unit) |
|||||
|
Tier |
Usage |
Water |
Sewer |
Combined |
||
|
1 |
0-10 |
$4.14 |
$8.20 |
$12.34 |
||
|
2 |
11-100 |
$5.97 |
$10.46 |
$16.43 |
||
|
3 |
101-200 |
$6.26 |
$10.97 |
$17.23 |
||
|
4 |
OVER 200 |
$6.50 |
$11.36 |
$17.86 |
||
(100 cubic feet is equal to 748 gallons)
More Information
If you have any further questions, please contact the Water and Sewer Department at 617-625-6600 ext. 5850.
Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact should contact Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or [email protected].
FY18 Residential & Commercial Rates
FY18 Residential Volumetric Charges ($/100 cu. ft.)100 cu. ft. = 748 gallons |
||||
| Tier | Usage in Units of 100 cu. ft. | Water | Sewer | Combined |
| 1 | 0-13 | $4.14 | $7.81 | $11.95 |
| 2 | 14-67 | $5.97 | $9.97 | $15.94 |
| 3 | 68-133 | $6.26 | $10.45 | $16.71 |
| 4 | 134+ | $6.50 | $10.82 | $17.32 |
On July 1, 2016 the City of Somerville Water & Sewer Department instituted a base monthly water connection charge. This amount is factored based upon meter size as shown in the following table. For example, an account with a 5/8” meter will be billed $5.00 per month or $20.00 per bill based on a four month, tri-annual billing cycle. Commercial accounts will continue to bill bi-monthly, thus the appropriate base charge will be applied twice a billing cycle.
Tri-Annual Residential Base Water Charge (Every 4 Months) |
||
| Meter Size | Monthly Charge | Per-Bill Charge |
| 5/8" | $5 | $20 |
| 3/4" | $5 | $20 |
| 1" | $5 | $20 |
| 1-1/12" | $10 | $40 |
| 2" | $16 | $64 |
| 3" | $30 | $120 |
| 4" | $50 | $200 |
| 6"+ | $100 | $400 |
The City has also instituted a base monthly sewer charge of $10 per month, adjusted to reflect the same meter equivalent adjustments.
Tri-Annual Residential Base Sewer Charge (Every 4 Months) |
||
| Meter Size | Monthly Charge | Per-Bill Charge |
| 5/8" | $10 | $40 |
| 3/4" | $10 | $40 |
| 1" | $10 | $40 |
| 1-1/12" | $20 | $80 |
| 2" | $32 | $128 |
| 3" | $60 | $240 |
| 4" | $100 | $400 |
| 6"+ | $200 | $800 |
It should be noted that the majority of residential accounts have either 5/8”, 3/4” or 1” meters and thus will fall into the lowest base charge meter factor. This charge will remain level over five years. Additionally, they incorporate the American Water Works Association Standard factors to better align City practices with industry guidelines.
FY18 Commercial Volumetric Charges ($/100 cu. ft.)100 cu. ft. = 748 gallons |
||||
| Tier | Usage in Units of 100 cu. ft. | Water | Sewer | Combined |
| 1 | 0-10 | $4.14 | $7.81 | $11.95 |
| 2 | 11-100 | $5.97 | $9.97 | $15.94 |
| 3 | 101-200 | $6.26 | $10.45 | $16.71 |
| 4 | 201+ | $6.50 | $10.82 | $17.32 |
On July 1, 2016 the City of Somerville Water & Sewer Department instituted a base monthly water connection charge. This amount is factored based upon meter size as shown in the following table. For example, an account with a 5/8” meter will be billed $5.00 per month or $20.00 per bill based on a four month, tri-annual billing cycle. Commercial accounts will continue to bill bi-monthly, thus the appropriate base charge will be applied twice a billing cycle.
Bimonthly Commercial Base Water Charge (Every 6 Months) |
||
| Meter Size | Monthly Charge | Per-Bill Charge |
| 5/8" | $5 | $10 |
| 3/4" | $5 | $10 |
| 1" | $5 | $10 |
| 1-1/12" | $10 | $20 |
| 2" | $16 | $32 |
| 3" | $30 | $60 |
| 4" | $50 | $100 |
| 6"+ | $100 | $200 |
The City has also instituted a base monthly sewer charge of $10 per month, adjusted to reflect the same meter equivalent adjustments.
Bimonthly Commercial Base Sewer Charge (Per-Bill Charge) |
||
| Meter Size | Monthly Charge | Per-Bill Charge |
| 5/8" | $10 | $20 |
| 3/4" | $10 | $20 |
| 1" | $10 | $20 |
| 1-1/12" | $20 | $40 |
| 2" | $32 | $64 |
| 3" | $60 | $120 |
| 4" | $100 | $200 |
| 6"+ | $200 | $400 |