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Rates effective January 1, 2026

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR WATER RATES

The Board of Directors of the Rowland Water District approved the adjusted rates and charges effective for services during the November 4, 2025 board meeting. The rates include proposed pass-through authority that would allow Rowland Water District to efficiently respond to future wholesale water rate increases. The adjusted rates and charges become effective for services provided on and after January 1, 2026, and the scheduled increases may be implemented annually on January 1 of each year, over the next five years, through and including January 1, 2030.

Single-Family Residential Monthly Fixed Charge

This is a fixed monthly charge based on the meter size serving a property. This charge is calculated to recover RWD’s fixed costs of operating and maintaining the water system and delivering water. These costs include fixed purchased water costs, maintenance, repair and replacement of infrastructure, water quality testing, meter reading, customer billing and collection, debt service payments and employee salaries. *Single-family residential customers who have a 1” meter to meet fire flow requirements were captured under 5/8” meters to reflect the capacity these customers utilize within the system.

Table describing new monthly rates for single family residential meters by meter size in inches
Man filling glass with water from the sink

Other Potable Monthly Fixed Charges

Table describing new monthly rates for commercial, industrial, governmental, institutional, and multi family residentialmeters by meter size in inches

All other customers, including commercial, industrial, governmental, institutional, and multi-family residential, pay a fixed monthly charge on their water bill. This charge is determined by the meter size on the customer’s property and contributes to the same essential RWD costs as the fixed service charges paid by Single-Family Residential Customers and Recycled Water Customers.

Man washing bellpeppers in the sink
2 construction workers digging a hole in the ground

Fire Service Charges

This fixed monthly service charge is calculated based on the connection size supplying private fire suppression facilities. It is designed to recover the cost of providing water for private fire protection services, including defraying the additional overhead costs of serving and maintaining this infrastructure. This charge is applied only to properties that, as a condition of extending or initiating water service, are required to install a private fire suppression system, or have requested water delivery for private fire service protection.

Table describing new monthly rates for providing water for fire protection services by meter size

Recycled Monthly Fixed Charges

Recycled Water Customers pay a fixed monthly charge determined by the meter size serving the property. This supports the same essential RWD costs as the fixed service charges paid by Single-Family Residential customers and all other customer classes except for fixed purchased water costs for potable water.

Table describing new monthly rates for recycled water customers by meter size in inches
The Rowland Water District Recycled Water sign

Variable Rates ($/hcf)

These are variable rates applied for each unit of delivered potable water or recycled water. One unit equals 100 cubic feet (hcf), or 748 gallons. The rates are calculated to recover RWD’s variable costs associated with providing potable and recycled water service. This includes the costs of purchasing and producing water, electricity and treatment chemicals, and replacing infrastructure. The monthly amount of these rates varies by the number of units (hcf) of potable or recycled water a customer uses during the billing period. The proposed changes would consolidate the current three-tier rate structure into two tiers, more accurately allocating costs across customer water use.

Table describing new rates per hcf by customer class and tier, potable and recycled

Potable Rates for Commercial and Multi-Family 

Table describing recycled water rates

Recycled Water Rates ($ per HCF)

Table describing recycled water rates

Construction Water Rates ($ per HCF)

Table describing recycled water rates

Construction Meter Fee Schedule*

Table describing recycled water rates

Water Shortage Surcharges

During periods of severe drought, it may be necessary to implement mandatory conservation measures to protect and extend Rowland Water District’s water supply.

Previously called Drought Rates, the Water Shortage Surcharge will be the incurred up to the maximum amount contained within the chart to the right. These surcharges enable the Board of Directors to increase the Potable Water Variable Rates during declared drought levels, state-mandated reductions in the level of potable water usage, or other natural disasters or events.

Table describing new variable rates by tier or potable for each stage of drought

Online Bill Estimator

Need help calculating your water rates on your water bill? Use our online bill estimator here.

UNDERSTANDING PASS-THROUGH RATES

At Rowland Water District, our top priority is delivering safe, reliable, and high-quality water to our customers every day. As part of our commitment to long-term sustainability and financial responsibility, we continually evaluate ways to manage rising water supply costs while maintaining excellent service and infrastructure. One of the tools to help us achieve this goal is the implementation of Pass-Through Rates.

  • WHAT ARE PASS-THROUGH RATES?

    Pass-Through Rates are a mechanism that allows Rowland Water District to pass-through any rate increases imposed on RWD by its wholesale suppliers without needing to hold a separate public hearing for each increase.

  • WHY IS ROWLAND WATER DISTRICT IMPOSING PASS-THROUGH RATES?

    More than half of RWD’s operating budget goes toward purchasing imported water. Recently, one of our wholesale providers significantly increased its rates, which directly impacts our operating costs. Imposing Pass-Through Rates would allow us to respond more efficiently and responsibly to future wholesale rate changes, helping us maintain the high standard of service our customers expect, without unnecessary delays or administrative costs. This approach supports financial stability and ensures regulatory compliance, resulting in more accurate rates rather than forcing RWD to predict or guess what the increase in imported water costs might be in future years.

  • HOW DO THE PASS-THROUGH RATES WORK?

    Beginning January 1, 2026, RWD can adjust rates annually, or as needed through July 1, 2030— based solely on increases from its wholesale suppliers. Any increase:

    • Would not exceed the actual wholesale rate increase, and
    • Would not exceed 100% of the impacted rates in any fiscal year.
  • WILL CUSTOMERS BE NOTIFIED BEFORE A PASS-THROUGH RATE IS IMPLEMENTED?

    Yes. Rowland Water District will provide written notice by mail to all affected properties at least 30 days in advance of any Pass-Through Rate adjustment.

  • CAN RWD RAISE RATES FOR OTHER REASONS THROUGH THE PASS-THROUGH?

    No. Pass-Through Rate adjustments may only reflect increased costs from water wholesalers. They cannot be used to fund unrelated projects, operations, or generate revenue beyond the cost of providing service.

  • WILL THERE BE A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH RATES CAN INCREASE DUE TO PASS-THROUGHS?
    Yes. The total rate adjustment cannot exceed 100% of the impacted rate in any fiscal year, regardless of how much wholesale costs increase.
  • IS RWD ALLOWED TO PROFIT FROM PASS-THROUGH RATE INCREASES?

    No. By law, water rates, Pass-Through or otherwise, cannot exceed the actual cost of providing water service.