Washington water and sewer rates
Who supplies water to Washington houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.
DC Water
DC Water residential rates for fiscal year 2027, beginning October 2, 2026; DC Water invoices customers monthly
| Use a month | Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons) |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $14.05 a month |
| 0 to 4 units | $7.31 |
| 4 to more | $9.22 |
- Source
- The Potomac River, a surface water supply. DC Water buys treated water from the Washington Aqueduct, run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- Hardness
- Total hardness averaged 126 ppm (7 grains per gallon), with a range of 78 to 175 ppm.
- Lead
- The 90th-percentile lead result was 2 ppb in both monitoring periods (action level 15 ppb); 0 and 1 of 105 samples were above the action level.
Sewer
Residential sewer is $12.91 per Ccf (fiscal year 2027). DC Water also bills the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge, a sewer fee of $25.50 per ERU a month; a property with 700 to 2,099 square feet of impervious area is 1.0 ERU.
Other charges on the utility bill
- DC stormwater fee, single-family home at 1.0 ERU (700 to 2,000 sq ft of impervious surface): $4.03 a month
Ways to pay less
- Low income: DC Water Customer Assistance Program. Income-eligible households get discounts on water and sewer services and/or some fees. Discounts range from $218 to $1,572 a year. DOEE verifies income. How: Call DOEE at 202-350-9649.
- Cut the Clean Rivers charge with rain gardens or rain barrels. Customers who manage stormwater on their property (rain gardens, rain barrels, pervious paving and similar practices) can earn up to a 20% discount on the CRIAC portion of their bill. How: Apply through DOEE's RiverSmart Rewards Program; DOEE decides eligibility.
Pay or manage it
Sources
- DC Water: Approved FY 2027 & FY 2028 Rates
- DC Water: Rates and Fees
- DC Water: Impervious Area Charge (ERU tiers)
- DOEE: Changes to the District's Stormwater Fee (residential ERU tiers)
- DC Water: Impervious Area Charge Incentive Program
- DC Water: Customer Assistance Programs
- DC Water 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report (PDF)
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.