San Luis Obispo water and sewer rates
Who supplies water to San Luis Obispo houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.
City of San Luis Obispo Utilities Department
Rates effective July 1, 2026; one unit of water is 1 CCF, or 748 gallons. A 5% Utility Users Tax is applied to the entire water portion of the bill.
| Use a month | Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons) |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $35.35 a month |
| 0 to 5 units | $9.99 |
| 5 to 12 units | $11.50 |
| 12 to more | $19.82 |
- Source
- The majority of the City's water comes from the three surface water reservoirs: Whale Rock Reservoir, Salinas Reservoir (Santa Margarita Lake), and Nacimiento Lake.
- PFAS
- The City's drinking water is not currently impacted by PFAS, based on recent water quality sampling.
- Fluoride
- The City adds fluoride to the treated water produced by the water treatment plant to help prevent dental caries in consumers.
Sewer
Residential sewer is a monthly base fee plus a per-unit charge on water use up to the customer's sewer cap, rates effective July 1, 2026. The City's notice describes a typical single-family home with a sewer cap of four units.
Ways to pay less
- Low-income households: City Customer Assistance Program. Eligible participants can receive a 20% discount on each monthly water and sewer bill. How: Apply to the City's Utilities Department; eligibility includes household income under twice the federal poverty level.
- Lower your sewer cap: cut winter irrigation. The 2026-2027 Sewer Cap period is December 1, 2026 - March 10, 2027; your water use then sets your cap starting July 1, 2027. How: Turn off irrigation and reduce outdoor water use during this period.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 15th of each month | Water and sewer bills not paid in full by the due date, the 15th of every month, get a late fee of $15 or 1.5%, whichever is greater. |
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.