Because of careful planning and numerous efficiency efforts, there will be no water or sewer rate increases in 2014.
For the second year in a row, Phoenix's average single-family residential water bill will remain at $37.75 per month, and the average single-family residential sewer bill will remain at $20.71 per month, both among the lowest in the nation.
Learn more about your City Services Bill
Learn how to reduce your monthly water charges
Limit your water usage to the amount in the monthly base fee to reduce your costs. The monthly residential water base fee of $4.36 includes 4,488
gallons of water from October through May and 7,480 gallons from June through September. If you use this amount or less, you will not be charged
additional water usage or consumption fees.
Use low water use plants and drip irrigation to reduce your water consumption. About 50% of water used in a typical residential home is for
outdoor landscaping or swimming pools.
Reduce your consumption in January, February and March of each year and you could reduce your annual sewer costs. Your monthly sewer charge is
calculated on your water usage in those months.
Current Specific Water & Sewer Rate Charges
The water rates in Phoenix have three main components: the monthly fixed service charge, volume (usage) charges and environmental charges.
Current Rate Schedule
Monthly Service Charge
The monthly fixed service charge id not increase in 2012. The fixed monthly service charge includes six (6) units of water (4,488 gallons) for October through May, and ten (10) units of water (7,480 gallons) for June through September. The service charge varies depending upon your meter size and whether you receive service inside or outside the city. Below is the service charge schedule for the rates effective July 1, 2012. All charges are subject to applicable sales taxes.
Learn more about taxes and other service charge related fees and download a tax and fee information sheet
Meter Size | Inside City | Outside City |
5/8" | $4.36 | $6.54 |
3/4" | 4.45 | 6.68 |
1" | 4.49 | 6.74 |
1 1/2" | 5.57 | 8.36 |
2" | 5.97 | 8.96 |
3" | 20.23 | 30.35 |
4" | 22.56 | 33.84 |
6" | 24.60 | 36.90 |
Water Volume Charges
Volume charges vary with the seasons and are assessed on water usage above the amount in the fixed monthly service charge. The amount a customer is charged for volume is based on metered consumption, and also varies depending upon whether you receive service inside or outside the city. The volume charge is highest in the summer months (June, July, August, and September); lowest in the winter months (December, January, February and March); and are priced in between during spring and fall months (April, May, October, and November). Below is the volume charge schedule for the rates effective July 1, 2012.
In excess of use included with the monthly service charge |
Months | Inside City | Outside City |
Low Months:
Dec., Jan., Feb., March | $2.86 | $4.29 |
Medium Months:
April, May, Oct., Nov. | 3.37 | 5.06 |
High Months:
June, July, Aug., Sept. | 3.77 | 5.66 |
Environmental Charges
Environmental charges are assessed on each unit used and vary depending upon whether you receive service inside or outside the city. Environmental charges are levied as part of the cost to implement unfunded regulations created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, or the Maricopa County Department of Environmental Services. Below is the environmental charge schedule for the rates effective July 1, 2012.
Note | Inside City | Outside City |
Applied to all usage | $0.38 | $0.57 |
Sewer Charges
Your monthly sewer charge is based on a calculation of 90 percent of the average water billed for January through March on your City Services Bill.
Download a listing of sewer service charges by user category that will show how by sewer charges are applied to all the various types of customers.
Learn more about taxes and other service charge related fees and download a tax and fee information sheet.
If you would like to learn more about your sewer charges, please contact the City of Phoenix Water Services Department Customer Services Division at 602-262-6251, or send us an e-mail.
Learn how to lower your monthly sewer charge
The best way to lower your monthly sewer charge is to use less water during January through March. To learn about ways to use less water, indoors and outdoors, request literature from the Phoenix Water Conservation Office.
If you own and maintain a swimming pool, another way to lower your sewer and your water charges when you refill the pool, is to do so when the water rates are at their lowest. And, if you refill the pool during the months of January, February or March, complete and submit a Request for Sewer Fee Adjustment form so the large volume charge doesn't impact your sewer charge. This form must be submitted by the end of September to be eligible for consideration.
Download the Request for Sewer Fee Adjustment form
Monthly Operations & Maintenance Distribution of Sewer Charges
Your sewer bill includes a base monthly service charge of $1.00 and a sewer service charge based on a portion of the average water consumption for the period of January, February and March. The sewer service charge recovers operation, maintenance and new facilities costs. The table below shows, by major user type, the percentage of the monthly sewer service charges attributed to operation and maintenance of the system. 40.32% of the sewer environmental charge is used for operation and maintenance of the system. The remainder pays for new environmental facilities costs. The sewer information is based on rates last adjusted in July 2012. This information is provided per Phoenix City Code Sec. 28-37 (b).
Residential | |
Single Family Residence | 33.59 |
Multi-Family Residence | 33.59 |
Commercial | |
Domestic Strength | 34.39 |
- With Dining | 33.35 |
Laundries/Commercial | 32.34 |
Mortuaries | 34.30 |
Restaurants & Bakeries | 31.81 |
- With dining | 31.62 |
Public | |
Federal Buildings | 35.08 |
- With Dining | 33.68 |
All Other Public Buildings | 35.08 |
- With dining | 33.68 |
More Information
For information about water and sewer billing, please contact the Water Customer Services Division, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding city holidays, at 602-262-6251. (However, the best days to reach them are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays). You also can send us questions or comments electronically.
Learn How to Read Your City Services Bill
