Water Rates
In 2024, the City approved a 4.0% water rate adjustment schedule for 2025 and 2026 to account for the increasing cost of providing clean, safe, and affordable drinking water. This includes the cost of repairing and replacing water mains and other water treatment materials.
The cost of water and sewer services for the average resident will rise by $3.47 per month in the winter when water consumption is at its lowest, and $6.14 per month in the summer when outdoor irrigation is used and water consumption is at its highest.
The City proactively manages utility rates by operating efficiently and planning ahead for infrastructure needs to ensure safe, reliable, and resilient service at a cost-effective level. For example, value engineering in 2025, saved approximately $40 million on the new drinking water facility. In addition, the City sponsors several water conservation and efficiency programs that residents may utilize to reduce costs
Rate Schedule
2026 Rate Schedule (PDF) | View All Rate Schedules
Below you'll find detailed rate information for water, sewer, stormwater, additional fees on your utility bill, and commercial/ residential meter breakpoints.
Water
All rates are per 1,000 gallons.
Residential water
- 1,000 - 8,000 gallons: $4.20
- 9,000 - 40,000 gallons: $7.66
- 41,000 gallons and over: $9.58
Multi-unit, public and residential irrigation
$8.87
Blended multi-unit
$8.28
Commercial
- Tier 1: $9.15
- Tier 2 - Surcharge: $11.21
Reclaimed water irrigation
$7.10
All rates are per 1,000 gallons.
Residential water
- 1,000 - 8,000 gallons: $4.62
- 9,000 - 40,000 gallons: $8.43
- 41,000 gallons and over: $10.54
Multi-unit, public and residential irrigation
$9.76
Blended multi-unit
$9.10
Commercial
- Tier 1: $10.06
- Tier 2 - Surcharge: $12.34
Reclaimed water irrigation
$7.81
All rates are per 1,000 gallons.
Residential water
- 1,000 - 8,000 gallons: $5.25
- 9,000 - 40,000 gallons: $9.58
- 41,000 gallons and over: $11.98
Multi-unit, public and residential irrigation
$11.09
Blended multi-unit
$10.34
Commercial
- Tier 1: $11.43
- Tier 2 - Surcharge: $14.02
Reclaimed water irrigation
$8.87
Sewer
Units are the average monthly water consumption billed during the sewer rate calculation period of January through March, divided by 1,000.
Residential single family - per unit:
$9.90 with a minimum charge of $19.80
All others - per unit
$10.29 with a minimum charge of $20.58
New residents
Flat monthly rate until the average monthly water consumption is calculated
$40.97
Any new occupant of single-family residential units shall be charged based on the average monthly water consumption of all single-family homes billed by the City. Any new multi-unit accounts shall be charged the average water consumption for existing multi-family units billed by the City.
Units are the average monthly water consumption billed during the sewer rate calculation period of January through March, divided by 1,000.
Residential single family - per unit:
$9.90 with a minimum charge of $19.80
All others - per unit
$10.29 with a minimum charge of $20.58
New residents
Flat monthly rate until the average monthly water consumption is calculated
$40.97
Any new occupant of single-family residential units shall be charged based on the average monthly water consumption of all single-family homes billed by the City. Any new multi-unit accounts shall be charged the average water consumption for existing multi-family units billed by the City.
Units are the average monthly water consumption billed during the sewer rate calculation period of January through March, divided by 1,000.
Residential single family - per unit:
$12.37 with a minimum charge of $24.74
All others - per unit
$12.86 with a minimum charge of $25.72
New residents
Flat monthly rate until the average monthly water consumption is calculated
$51.21
Any new occupant of single-family residential units shall be charged based on the average monthly water consumption of all single-family homes billed by the City. Any new multi-unit accounts shall be charged the average water consumption for existing multi-family units billed by the City.
Stormwater Management Fee
Single-Family Detached Residential
$6 per month
Based upon 3,100 sq. ft. of impervious area, including roofs, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
All Other Property
Including commercial, apartments, townhomes, etc.
$1.93 per month, per 1,000 square feet of impervious area
Other Charges and Fees
Residential
Roadway Improvement Fee
$6 per month
Meter charge
Per month. Please see meter breakpoints section below.
Late fee
$10
Returned check fee
$30
Non-payment fee
$45
Transfer of service
$35
Commercial
Roadway improvement fee
$6 per unit
Late fee
$10
Returned check fee
$30
Non-payment fee
$45
Transfer of service
$35
Residential
Roadway Improvement Fee
N/A
Meter charge
Per month. Please see meter breakpoints section below.
Late fee
$10
Returned check fee
$30
Non-payment fee
$45
Transfer of service
$35
Commercial
Roadway improvement fee
N/A
Late fee
$10
Returned check fee
$30
Non-payment fee
$45
Transfer of service
$35
Residential
Roadway Improvement Fee
N/A
Meter charge
Per month. Please see meter breakpoints section below.
Late fee
$10
Returned check fee
$30
Non-payment fee
$45
Transfer of service
$35
Commercial
Roadway improvement fee
N/A
Late fee
$10
Returned check fee
$30
Non-payment fee
$45
Transfer of service
$35
Commercial/Residential Meter Breakpoints
Additional sizes available upon request.
| Meter Size | Monthly Meter Service Charge |
|---|---|
| 5/8 inches | $15.34 |
| 3/4 inches | $22.72 |
| 1 inch | $32.65 |
| 1 1/2 inches | $55.46 |
| 2 inches | $81.33 |
| 3 inches | $169.73 |
| 4 inches | $245.19 |
| 6 inches | $456.91 |
| 8 inches | $684.98 |
| 10 inches | $1,048.08 |
| Meter Size | Monthly Meter Service Charge |
|---|---|
| 5/8 inches | $16.87 |
| 3/4 inches | $24.99 |
| 1 inches | $35.92 |
| 1 1/2 inches | $61.01 |
| 2 inches | $89.46 |
| 3 inches | $186.70 |
| 4 inches | $269.71 |
| 6 inches | $502.60 |
| 8 inches | $753.48 |
| 10 inches | $1,152.89 |
| Meter Size | Monthly Meter Service Charge |
|---|---|
| 5/8 inches | $19.18 |
| 3/4 inches | $28.40 |
| 1 inch | $40.82 |
| 1 1/2 inches | $69.32 |
| 2 inches | $101.66 |
| 3 inches | $212.16 |
| 4 inches | $306.49 |
| 6 inches | $571.14 |
| 8 inches | $856.22 |
| 10 inches | $1,310.11 |
About Your Water Rates
According to the 2024 Community Survey, providing safe drinking water and sewer services is a top priority for residents.
Monthly utility bills are the sole source of revenue to support Westminster's water and wastewater system. Rates determine what utility bills charge based mostly on how much water a household uses. Most revenue from utility bills goes toward projects that repair infrastructure and staff to operate the system.
Prior to 2021, the city raised water and sewer rates by an average of 4.8% each year since 2000, with more substantial rate increases adopted in 2019 and 2020. In February 2022, City Council voted to reduce water rates and increase consumption limits of the City's three-tier structure for residential customers. This new rate structure was developed through extensive financial modeling and provided immediate financial relief ahead of the irrigation season. In addition to covering additional costs due to inflation, which has increased 1% to 4% each year since 2000, the main driver for rate increases has been the need to invest more in replacing and repairing the city's existing infrastructure.
The largest challenge facing Westminster's water and sewer system is aging water and sewer infrastructure. A large portion of Westminster's infrastructure was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s during significant growth in the city. This infrastructure is now close to 50 years old and needs to be replaced. Studies have shown that we've used up half the useful life of our water and sewer infrastructure, and 25% of the total infrastructure is already at or beyond its designed life.
Aging infrastructure and increasing water rates are a challenge across the country. The American Society of Civil Engineers grades Colorado's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure at C-. Nationwide, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is graded D and D+, respectively.
Failure to invest more in the city's existing infrastructure today will lead to service interruptions, sewer backups and possible impacts to water quality such as boil water advisories. There are also higher costs for emergency repairs, which are up to eight times more expensive than planned projects.
To continue delivering safe and reliable drinking water, the city has increased its investment in construction projects that repair and replace our existing infrastructure.
Over the last ten years, the city averaged about $30 million a year in water and sewer construction projects. Based on comprehensive engineering studies, staff recommends increasing the city's investment in repairing or replacing its existing infrastructure. The city's Long Term Planning process systematically identifies the right projects at the right time to invest ratepayers' funds as efficiently as possible.
All Westminster customers pay the following three fees, though billing amounts may vary (e.g., Residential vs Commercial):
- Water Utility Infrastructure Fixed Charge: This funds maintenance of the infrastructure that supplies water to our residents.
- Roadway Improvement Fee: This partially funds general roadway improvements including asphalt maintenance, traffic signal maintenance and operation, streetlighting, and concrete replacement.
- Stormwater Management Fee: This funds infrastructure, treatment, and regulatory compliance, based on your property.
- The $6 monthly fee is charged to every utility account, regardless of their occupancy, orientation or use. As an example, a single-family home would pay $6 per month on their utility bill. A residential apartment complex that has 1 utility account and 20 residential units, would also pay $6 per month.
- Just as with the multi-family example, a retail or industrial complex with a 20,000 square foot building and only 1 utility account would also pay $6 per month.
- The $6 fee was established in 2014 and has not been adjusted to account for inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Denver Metropolitan area shows inflation increased approximately 14.5% between 2014 and 2020. This increase in inflation has resulted in higher concrete and street lighting costs and no additional revenues generated from the Infrastructure Fee.