Palo Alto water and sewer rates

Who supplies water to Palo Alto houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.

City of Palo Alto Utilities

Rate Schedule W-1 (effective July 1, 2026): monthly service charge $29.92 for 5/8-inch to 1-inch meters, SFPUC water delivery charge $6.23 per hundred cubic feet plus a distribution rate of $3.77 for Tier 1 and $8.81 for Tier 2.

Use a month	Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons)
Fixed charge	$29.92 a month
0 to 6 units	$10.00
6 to more	$15.04

Source: The water delivery charge is passed through from the SFPUC wholesale rate (Water Rate Schedule W-25).

Sewer

Rate Schedule S-1 (effective July 1, 2026): $77.84 per month for each occupied domestic dwelling unit.

Other charges on the utility bill

Stormwater management fee (1.0 ERU, lots of 6,000 to 11,000 sq ft): $18.14 a month

Ways to pay less

Low-income seniors (born before June 30, 1962): Valley Water tax exemption. Owners born before June 30, 1962 who own and live in the home, with 2025 total household income below $75,112, can be exempt from Valley Water's Safe, Clean Water special tax, a saving of approximately $80. Homes in an irrevocable trust and mobile homes in parks are not eligible. The 2026 application period was April 15 to June 30, 2026. How: See valleywater.org/senior-parcel-tax-exemption; the 2026 application period was April 15 to June 30, 2026.
Valley Water lawn conversion rebate. Valley Water's base rate for converting approved high-water-use lawns and pools to low-water-use landscapes is $2 per square foot, up to $3,000 for residential sites. How: Apply through Valley Water's landscape rebates page.

Pay or manage it

Valley Water low-income senior exemption ↗

Sources

Checked October 22, 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.