Water Rates for 2008

The tables below show current rates for residential services.  If you are interested in more detail you may want to review City Ordinance No. 27570 relating to water regulations and rates of the City of Tacoma.

If necessary you may download Acrobat® Reader® to view the Ordinance file.

The Public Utility Board and City Council approved a water rate increase to begin Jan. 1, 2008.

How much is the rate increase?

The system-wide average increase is 7.5 percent. The increase by type of customer year is:

What are some features of the rate design?

The rate design continues to encourage water conservation, with residential and wholesale customers paying 25 percent more in the summer. The differential applies only to residential and wholesale customers because these customers generally use more in the summer for lawns and gardens; businesses tend to use the same amount of water year-round.

Tacoma Water also retained the 25 percent discount for customers who qualify for discounts on their City-provided utility services.

The rate design incorporates a new element of costs for customers living in the cities of University Place, Fircrest, Puyallup and Lakewood. These jurisdictions currently charge a franchise fee to Tacoma Water. Over the next four years, rate adjustments for these jurisdictions will include an increase adequate to phase in full recovery of these franchise fees by Tacoma Water.

What are the residential rates?

What does that mean to my water bill?

For the typical residential customer inside the city limits, the rate increase amounts to about $2 a month in each year.

Why does Tacoma Water need the rate increase?

Tacoma Water requested the rate increase to address a number of needs, including:

• Renew and replace the oldest parts of the water systems.

• Federal requirements for water treatment.

• Environmental responsibilities.

• Responses to actions of other government agencies (for example, the need to move water mains due to road widening projects.)

• Future needs for water supply.

Updated: July 08, 2008