San Diego water and sewer rates
Who supplies water to San Diego houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.
City of San Diego Public Utilities
water rates effective January 1, 2026; the bill is a monthly meter base fee plus the water used, measured in hundred cubic feet (HCF)
| Use a month | Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons) |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $35.53 a month |
| 0 to 5 units | $8.51 |
| 5 to 11 units | $9.50 |
| 11 to more | $11.89 |
- Source
- Most of the City's water is imported raw water bought from the San Diego County Water Authority, mostly a blend of Colorado River and State Water Project water, treated at the City's plants.
- Hardness
- Total hardness averaged 237 to 243 ppm (13.8 to 14.2 grains per gallon) at the Alvarado, Miramar and Otay treatment plants in 2025.
- Unregulated contaminants and PFAS
- In 2023 the water was tested for 30 unregulated contaminants, including 29 PFAS compounds. 29 of the 30 were not detected above the EPA reporting level; the one detected was lithium.
- Lead
- Lead and copper were non-detectable above the state reporting limit in the water produced at the City's treatment plants, but can enter drinking water through plumbing in homes.
- Violation notice
- In 2023 the State Water Board found the City had not fully implemented its cross-connection (backflow) control program; in 2025 it completed 45% of the required surveys, 2 years ahead of schedule.
Sewer
Single-family sewer charges from January 1, 2026: base sewer fee of $22.56 for two months and $5.92 per HCF; the maximum fee is $259.36 (fee capped at 20 HCF/month). Each single-family customer's sewer rate is based on the water used during the previous winter.
Ways to pay less
- Use less water in winter to lower your sewer bill. A single-family home's flat sewer rate is based on water used during the previous winter (mostly November through April), and it applies from the bill that includes July 1 for a year. How: Fix leaks and save water in winter. Call 619-515-3500 for your exact monitoring dates.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2027 | The City has proposed a unitary water rate for bills beginning Jan. 1, 2027: $11.09 per HCF for single-family homes and a $40.97 monthly service charge for 5/8" and 3/4" meters (previously adopted: $40.69). |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- City of San Diego water billing rates
- FY2026 water rate study (Raftelis)
- City water and sewer rate adjustments
- 2025 Proposition 218 notice (water and wastewater rates 2026-2029)
- City sewer billing rates
- How to read your water and sewer bill
- Winter monitoring period for single-family sewer
- 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
Checked October 20, 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.