Following are our current rates for drinking water (regular and seasonal), wastewater and stormwater, as well as fire protection charges.
Please note that we have new rates for wastewater and stormwater—see sidebar at right for details. You will first see these rates in your August bill.
Drinking Water Rates
Effective October 3, 2011
Accounts Billed Monthly: For all usage in excess of 100 cubic feet per month - $2.40 per 100 cubic feet (100 cubic feet = 748.1 gallons)
Minimum Charges:
| Minimum Charge | Water Allowance (Cubic Ft.) |
|
| Size of Meter | Monthly | Monthly |
| 5/8" | $11.33 | 100 |
| 3/4" | $13.18 | 100 |
| 1" | $15.04 | 100 |
| 1 1/2" | $21.99 | 100 |
| 2" | $28.02 | 100 |
| 3" | $35.90 | 100 |
| 4" | $51.20 | 100 |
| 6" | $85.05 | 100 |
Seasonal Rates:
For all usage in excess of 600 cubic feet for the season - $2.40 per
100 cubic feet (100 cubic feet = 748.1 gallons )
Minimum seasonal charges:
| Minimum Charge | Water Allowance (Cubic Ft.) |
|
| Size of Meter | Per Season | Per Season |
| 5/8" | $82.77 | 600 |
| 3/4" | $105.02 | 600 |
| 1" | $127.27 | 600 |
| 1 1/2" | $210.73 | 600 |
| 2" | $283.05 | 600 |
| 3" | $377.63 | 600 |
| 4" | $561.23 | 600 |
| 6" | $967.37 | 600 |
WASTEWATER (SEWER) FEES
Effective July 1, 2019
| Wastewater Service Charge (Cost/Quarter) | $25.49 |
| Wastewater Service Charge (Cost/Month) | $8.50 |
| Wastewater User Charge, per 100 Cubic Ft. | $3.08 |
| Wastewater Unmetered Customers (Cost/Quarter) | $80.94 |
Wastewater Permit Fees:
- Residential, $75
- Commercial, $100
- Industrial, $100
Wastewater Availability Fee (charged to new customers):
$10.00 per gallon per day or:
| Residential Housing | $1,000 flat fee |
| Office Building | 15 gal/day/employee X $10/gallon |
| Apartments | $750/unit |
| Retail Space | 3/4 gal/100 sq. ft X $10/gallon |
Inspection Fees: If Owner's Contractor performs all work on street Property, $50/hour for projects, $1.00/lineal foot of pipe, $50 x total number of catch basins or manholes
STORMWATER FEES
Effective July 1, 2019
| Stormwater, Catch Basins (Cost/Month) | $40.59 |
| Stormwater, ERU (Equivalent Rate Unit), Cost per Unit per Month | $12.56 |
| 1 Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) = 2,700 square feet of impervious surface area | |
| Residential | 1.00 ERU |
| Multi-Family | 0.50 ERU x number of units |
| Mobile Homes | 0.50 ERU |
| Condos | 0.75 ERU |
| Commercial | 1.00 ERU per 2,700 sq. feet impervious area, min 1.0 ERU |
| Commercial w/ Storage Detention | 0.75 ERU per 2,700 sq. feet impervious area |
Fire Protection Charges
Effective October 3, 2011
(Municipal Fire Protection - Charge per year for fire hydrants installed
as of July 1, 2011.)
| Community | Number of Hydrants | Annual Charges |
| Augusta | 451.5 | $738,203 |
| Manchester | 23.0 | $37,605 |
| Winthrop | 12.0 | $19,620 |
| Chelsea | 1.0 | $1,635 |
| Vassalboro | 1.5 | $2,453 |
| Hallowell | 5.0 | $8,175 |
| Total | 494.0 | $807,690 |
| Annual Cost per Hydrant | $1,635 |
Other fire protection charges:
(Charge per year for fire service connections to water mains.)
| Size of Connection | Annual Charge |
| 1" | $253.44 |
| 1 1/2" | $380.16 |
| 2" | $506.76 |
| 3" | $760.20 |
| 4" | $1,013.64 |
| 6" | $1,520.40 |
| 8" | $2,027.28 |
| 10" | $2,534.04 |
| 12" | $3,040.92 |
BEGINNING JULY 1ST OUR NEW WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER RATES REFLECT OUR CHANGING COSTS:
- Wastewater (sewer) rates have been reduced by 25%.
- Stormwater ERU (Equivalent Residential Units) rates have risen by $4.26, from $8.30 to $12.56 per month.
- Catch basin fees have gone down by 20%, from $50.89 to $40.59 per month.
- You’ll see the new rates starting with your August bill. (Note: Hallowell wastewater-only customers will see the change—a decline—in their October bills.)
HOW WILL THE PROPOSED RATE CHANGES AFFECT YOU?
As part of our ongoing review of District expenses, we’ve determined that wastewater services are costing less and stormwater costs have risen. To maintain accurate, transparent allocation of costs, we have raised ERU stormwater rates, while reducing stormwater catch basin rates and wastewater rates.
The net change in your bill will depend on your mix of services used. For example:
- A single-family home using 100 cubic feet of water per month will pay a total of $3 more per month for wastewater and stormwater combined.
- A commercial property with 125 ERUs and 25 catch basins, and a billable flow of 155 cubic feet per month will see a net rise of 3% or $79.33 per month.
SUMMARY OF RATE CHANGES:
(per month)
| Wastewater | Current | New | Change |
| Metered Customers | $4.34 | $3.08 | -29% |
| Service Charge | $8.50 | $8.50 | — |
| Unmetered | $103.62 | $80.94 | -22% |
| Stormwater | Current | New | Change |
| ERUs* | $8.30 | $12.56 | +51% |
| Catch Basins | $50.89 | $40.59 | -20% |
*Equivalent Residential Units. One ERU = 2,700 square feet of impervious surface area.
