Santa Clara water and sewer rates
Who supplies water to Santa Clara houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.
City of Santa Clara Water Utility
City of Santa Clara Water Rate Schedule 2026-01 (adopted June 9, 2026, for service on or after July 1, 2026): all potable water use is $11.09 per Hundred Cubic Feet (HCF), with a minimum monthly charge of $29.78 for a 5/8 x 3/4 inch meter. A customer whose use exceeds the minimum charge pays only the volumetric rate; the two charges are not applied at the same time.
| Use a month | Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons) |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $0.00 a month |
| 0 to more | $11.09 |
- Source
- Most of the water is pumped from the City's deep wells, from aquifers 500 to 900 feet deep. Valley Water serves mainly the southwest of the City, and SFPUC (Hetch Hetchy) water typically serves the area north of Highway 101.
- PFAS
- The City's 2024 water quality report says no PFAS compounds have been detected in the City's monitoring from 2019 to date.
- Lead
- No Santa Clara water source exceeded the lead action level. The 2024 service line inventory inspected more than 2,000 service lines and found no lead services.
Sewer
City of Santa Clara Sewer Rate Schedule (Resolution No. 26-9572, adopted June 9, 2026, effective July 1, 2026): single-family dwelling units, including accessory dwellings, pay a flat $64.46 per month.
Ways to pay less
- Income-qualified households: Rate Assistance Program. The City's Rate Assistance Program discounts the electric portion of the utility bill for qualified Santa Clara residents: 35% off the first 300 kWh a month and 25% off kWh 301 to 800 (40% off the first 300 kWh for households meeting the LIHEAP income limits). Financial RAP customers also get $10.00 off garbage collection charges and 25% off water (first 12 HCF) and sewer bills. The income limit is $113,700 a year for a one-person household and $162,400 for four. How: Apply for Financial RAP through Silicon Valley Power's partner, Central Coast Energy Services; proof of income is required.
- 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
Sources
- Valley Water FY 2026-27 Safe, Clean Water special tax resolution
- Valley Water FY 2026-27 special tax staff report
- Valley Water: low-income senior exemption (2026)
- City of Santa Clara Resolution 26-9571: water rate schedule 2026-01
- City of Santa Clara Resolution 26-9572: sewer rates
- City of Santa Clara: proposed 2026-27 water and sewer rates (archived)
- City staff report on 2026-27 water and sewer rates
- City of Santa Clara 2024 water quality report (archived)
- Valley Water landscape rebates
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.