Clifton water and sewer rates
Who supplies water to Clifton houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.
Passaic Valley Water Commission
Clifton-Passaic-Paterson rates effective 02/15/2026: a 5/8-inch meter pays a $96.46 quarterly base charge plus $2.90 per CCF. PVWC typically bills residential customers quarterly; Clifton homes are in PVWC's Main Service Area.
| Use a month | Price per unit (CCF, 748 gallons) |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $32.15 a month |
| 0 to more | $2.90 |
- Source
- PVWC takes water from the Passaic River in Totowa and treats it at the Little Falls plant; for most customers it is blended with water bought from the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission.
- Violations
- PVWC reported no NJDEP violations for water quality in 2025.
- Hardness
- Little Falls plant water: 106.0 to 242.0 ppm as CaCO3 (2025).
Sewer
Clifton's 2026 sewer user charge for non-Tier II users is an annual flat fee of $206 that includes up to 40 ccf of use (or $169 for up to 20 ccf), plus an excess discharge fee of $3.59 per ccf for use between 41 and 144 ccf, based on the previous year's water consumption. It is paid in two installments, due June 1 and September 1 or within 30 days of the bill's mailing, whichever is later. The Tax Collector bills and collects sewer bills.
Ways to pay less
- Seniors 65+ on the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deduction: 10% sewer credit. Clifton's sewer code gives seniors 65 or older who receive the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deduction a 10% credit on the minimum and excess sewer discharge fees. How: The senior deduction is claimed on Form PTD, filed with Clifton's Assessing Department.
- Pool or sprinkler system: 10% sewer credit. Owners with a pool of at least 3,000 gallons or an irrigation system with at least three heads, whose water does not drain into the sewer, can get a credit of 10% of the discharge fee on one semi-annual bill a year. How: Send the city's sewer discharge credit form to the Tax Collector, Sewer Credit, 900 Clifton Ave.
- Had a leak? Ask for a sewer bill adjustment. If a repaired leak raised your water meter reading and the water did not go into the sewer, the city can adjust the sewer bill; one adjustment per five years. How: Write to the City Manager within 30 days of the bill date.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Jun 1 and Sep 1 | Sewer charge installments are due (or within 30 days of the bill's mailing, if later). |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- Clifton City Code § 375-3.4, sanitary sewer user charge (Ord. 7986-25)
- Clifton sewer discharge credit form (swimming pool)
- PVWC 2026 water and sewer rates
- PVWC 2026 water quality report (2025 data)
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.