Cathedral City water and sewer rates
Who supplies water to Cathedral City houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.
Coachella Valley Water District
CVWD bills a monthly fixed charge by meter size plus water budget-based tiers per ccf: Tier 1 up to 8 ccf, Tier 2 up to 100% of your water budget, Tier 3 from 101% up to 175%, Tier 4 from 176% up to 300%, and Tier 5 at 300% or more of the budget.
| Use a month | Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons) |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $14.71 a month |
| 0 to 8 units | $1.09 |
| 8 to 20 units | $1.36 |
| 20 to 35 units | $4.18 |
| 35 to 60 units | $4.90 |
| 60 to more | $7.49 |
- Source
- CVWD delivers water to customers from wells drilled into the Coachella Valley's groundwater basin; its Cove Communities system includes portions of Cathedral City.
- Chromium-6
- Chromium-6 was detected in the Cove Communities system at levels that exceed California's Cr-6 MCL (10 µg/L); the system is not considered in violation until after October 1, 2026, and CVWD submitted a compliance plan to the State Water Resources Control Board's Division of Drinking Water (DDW) on October 13, 2025.
- Lead
- CVWD has determined it has no lead or galvanized pipes requiring replacement service lines in its distribution system, including privately-owned or customer-owned service lines.
Desert Water Agency
DWA bills a monthly fixed water service charge by meter size ($43.27 for a 5/8 x 3/4 inch meter) plus $2.75 per 100 cubic feet (748 gallons) used; higher-elevation zones add a zone pumping charge per hcf.
| Use a month | Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons) |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $43.27 a month |
| 0 to more | $2.75 |
- Source
- Most of DWA's drinking water comes from groundwater in the Indio Subbasin of the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin; DWA also uses mountain streams.
- Hardness
- DWA's 2025 water quality report lists hardness of 240 mg/L (range 94 to 340) for its groundwater sources, sampled 2022-2025.
- Chromium-6
- DWA's 2025 water quality report lists hexavalent chromium at 1.5 µg/L (range ND to 4.4) in its groundwater sources in 2025, against an MCL of 10.
Sewer
CVWD charges residential sewer service per Equivalent Sewer Unit (ESU): a $1.91 monthly account charge plus $31.96 a month per ESU, and the typical home is 1 ESU. Most residential customers are billed for sewer on their property tax bills.
Ways to pay less
- Bigger household? Indoor water budgets can be increased. CVWD's default indoor water budget for homeowners is 8 ccf, based on four people; indoor budgets can be increased for homes with more than four people. How: CVWD Customer Service: 1-800-262-2651.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2027 | Desert Water Agency's new potable water rates and wastewater service charge take effect, appearing on February 2027 bills. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- CVWD domestic water rates (effective July 1, 2025)
- CVWD sewer service rates (effective July 1, 2025)
- CVWD domestic water rate changes staff report, June 2024 (typical customer)
- CVWD board agenda, April 28, 2026 (Cathedral City septic to sewer MOU)
- Desert Water Agency: current rates and fees
- Desert Water Agency 2025 water quality report
Checked October 21, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.
Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.