Utility Rates

Residential Water/Wastewater

(Effective January 1, 2025)

Water

Total water charges consist of your base rate and monthly consumption. Consumption is billed in 1000 gallon increments on a tiered billing structure.

Water Utility Frequently Asked Questions

Base/Minimum monthly water rate

3/4" Meter:

• Inside City Limits: $16.50
• Outside City Limits: $20.63

1" Meter:

• Inside City Limits: $27.50
• Outside City Limits: $34.38

Water Consumption Rate (per 1000 gallons)

Wastewater

Total sewer charges consist of your base rate and monthly consumption. We calculate a Winter Average using your water consumption billed during November, December, January and February.

Your sewer charges are capped by the average of your water consumption billed during the winter months (traditionally the months with the lowest water usage). If no water is used during these months or you establish new service, winter usage defaults to 6000 gallons. If you use less than your average at any time, you'll be charged for the lesser amount.

Base/Minimum monthly wastewater rate

• Inside City Limits: $26.17
• Outside City Limits: $32.71

Wastewater Volumetric Use Rate

• Inside City Limits: $6.76 per 1000 gallons
• Outside City Limits: $8.45 per 1000 gallons

Non-Residential Water/Wastewater

(Effective January 1, 2025)

Water

Total water charges consist of your base rate and monthly consumption. Base rate is based on meter size. Consumption is billed in 1000 gallon increments on a tiered billing structure.

Small Commercial Base/Minimum monthly rate

If all meters are smaller than 3", the account will be billed at the small commercial base and monthly rate. Check your bill to see your Rate Class.

Small Commercial Volumetric Use Rate

• Inside City Limits: $3.87 per 1000 gallons
• Outside City Limits: $4.84 per 1000 gallons

Large Commercial Base/Minimum monthly rate

If an account has more than 3 meters and the largest is 3" or larger, all meters will be billed at the large commercial rate. Check your bill to see your Rate Class.

Large Commercial Volumetric Use Rate

• Inside City Limits: $4.61 per 1000 gallons
• Outside City Limits: $5.76 per 1000 gallons

Wastewater

Wastewater charges are based on 100% of metered volume use times rate.

Small/Large Commercial Demand Rates

Small/Large Commercial Volumetric Rate

• Inside City Limits: $6.76 per 1000 gallons
• Outside City Limits: $8.45 per 1000 gallons

Irrigation Water

(Effective January 1, 2025)

Irrigation Base/Minimum monthly rate

Irrigation Volumetric Use Rate (per 1000 gallons)

Industrial Water

(Effective January 1, 2025)

Industrial Base/Minimum monthly rate
Accounts billed as Industrial will be charged the Industrial rate. Check your bill to see your Rate Class.

Industrial Volumetric Rate (per 1000 gallons)

• Inside City Limits: $4.43
• Outside City Limits: $5.54

Municipal Drainage Utility System

The Municipal Drainage Utility System (MDUS) was established by the Waco City Council in November 2020, following state statutes that support the maintenance of municipal drainage infrastructure. This system is designed to manage the City’s drainage infrastructure, address water quality and environmental issues, and oversee floodplains.

The drainage system in Waco is a significant asset valued at over $750 million. However, parts of the system are aging, with some components being over 100 years old. Consequently, it requires ongoing maintenance, repair, and replacement, along with upgrades in areas of the City that experience localized flooding. Previously, these maintenance needs competed for funding with other city functions supported by the General Fund, such as parks, police, roads, and libraries. As a result, repairs were often delayed until they became emergencies, leading to more expensive emergency repairs compared to planned maintenance. The Drainage Utility and associated Drainage Fee create a dedicated fund to maintain this valuable asset, with fees based on the amount of runoff each customer generates. This will help City staff better plan for and address the over $100 million in identified needs.

Additionally, the Clean Water Act mandates that cities develop and implement plans to reduce stormwater pollution. To comply with this requirement, the City holds a permit for the Municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4) from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In 2021, the Watershed Protection Division of the Infrastructure Services Department was created and funded by the MDUS. This division is responsible for monitoring activities associated with the MS4 permit, ensuring compliance, reviewing and permitting development and construction in floodplains, and evaluating new developments for stormwater engineering and drainage requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions about MDUS

Street Maintenance Fee

The City of Waco maintains a street inventory of over 1,500 lane miles. Funding for street maintenance has historically come from general fund revenues, primarily property taxes (valuation-based) and sales taxes. However, neither of these sources reflects the actual use—or traffic volume—imposed on city streets. Traffic volume is a key factor in determining street wear and maintenance needs.

To address this imbalance, the City of Waco has enacted a Street Maintenance Fee, a proportional monthly user fee based on the demand that different land uses place on the street system. This fee is collected through the monthly utility bill.

The Street Maintenance Fee is designed to ensure that those who generate more traffic—and therefore more wear and tear on streets—contribute proportionally to their maintenance. The fee currently funds approximately 12% of the City’s total annual street maintenance expenses.

Certain properties are exempt from the fee, including:

• Property owned by the United States, the State of Texas, McLennan County, the City of Waco, or any Independent School District
• Property owned by religious organizations that is exempt from taxation
• Public or private institutions of higher education
• Undeveloped property held in its natural state
• Cemeteries that are closed to new interments and do not accept new burials
• Single-Family Detached or Single-Family Attached Housing with no registered motor vehicles, trailers, or recreational vehicles associated with the residence

An Exemption Form is available for qualifying properties.

The monthly fee for single-family residential properties is $2.00. Fees for non-residential properties vary based on the property’s use and its estimated impact on the street system.

To find the fee for a specific property, visit the Waco Street Maintenance interactive map. Zoom in to locate your property and click on it. A window will appear showing the data used to calculate your fee. Scroll to the bottom of this window to view the monthly fee amount.

Frequently Asked Questions about Street Fees