Johnson City water and sewer rates
Who supplies water to Johnson City houses, what it costs, and how the sewer charge works.
Johnson City Water and Sewer Services
City of Johnson City Water and Sewer Department, inside corporate limits water rates, marked effective July 1, 2026 on the rate table (in the City Rate & Connection Fee Schedule dated October 1, 2026): a base charge per bill plus a charge per 1,000 gallons that steps down at 20,000, 190,000 and 490,000 gallons
| Use a month | Price per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|
| Fixed charge | $6.30 a month |
| 0 to 20 thousand gallons | $4.92 |
| 20 to 190 thousand gallons | $3.94 |
| 190 to 490 thousand gallons | $3.54 |
| 490 to more | $3.20 |
- Size
- The department treats 5.6 billion gallons of drinking water a year and processes over 5 billion gallons of wastewater.
- System
- EPA records list the system as serving 105,057 people through 46,281 service connections.
- Lead
- Johnson City banned lead pipes for new construction and renovations inside city limits in the early 1970s; in older homes and neighborhoods, galvanized or lead plumbing may have been used.
Sewer
Inside city limits, per the City Rate & Connection Fee Schedule dated October 1, 2026: a $7.82 sewer base charge per bill plus $7.85 per 1,000 gallons of water, the same rate at every usage level.
Other charges on the utility bill
- Stormwater user fee (average single-family home, 1 SFU): $4.00 a month
Ways to pay less
- Leak adjustment on your water and sewer bill. High bills from a verified leak may be adjusted once the leak is repaired and use returns to normal: if use was 3 times normal, you pay your average bill plus 50% of the excess water charges, and excess sewer can be waived. How: Johnson City Water and Sewer customer service: 423-461-1640.
- $40 bill credit for a BrightRidge water heater device. BrightRidge installs a free TALO load-management device on a qualifying electric water heater; the installation may qualify for a one-time $40 credit on your energy bill, plus free element and thermostat replacement. How: Complete BrightRidge's Water Heater Incentive Request Form or call BrightRidge Energy Services at (423) 952-5142.
- Income-qualified: free home energy upgrades (Home Uplift). Through BrightRidge and TVA EnergyRight's Home Uplift program, eligible income-qualified customers receive an average of $10,000 in free home energy upgrades such as HVAC, insulation and water heaters. How: Call (888) 986-7262 for a Home Uplift application; the program is first-come, first-served.
Pay or manage it
Sources
- Johnson City Water and Sewer Customer Service Policy Manual (revised 9/28/26), rate schedules
- Johnson City Water and Sewer Services
- Johnson City Water and Sewer customer service
- EPA SDWIS water system record TN0000331
- Johnson City stormwater utility
- Johnson City Stormwater Utility FAQ
- BrightRidge water heater TALO program
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.