Our Current Rates

current rates for drinking water (regular and seasonal), wastewater and stormwater, as well as fire protection charges.

DRINKING WATER, WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER PROPOSED RATES MAY INCREASE ON JUNE 1, 2025

PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED RATES
MARCH 17, 2025 AT 6:00 PM | GAUD HEADQUARTERS: 22 ARSENAL STREET, AUGUSTA

After the hearing, the rates will be considered and voted upon at the Board's April 28, 2025 meeting. If approved by the Board, the rate changes will take effect on or around June 1, 2025. While we take pride in keeping costs and rates stable, rising operating costs have made these increases essential to continue providing safe and reliable drinking water supplies, and effective wastewater collection and treatment.

GET DETAILS HERE

OTHER REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASES:

DRINKING WATER & FIRE PROTECTION
  • Replace aging pumps, pipes and equipment
  • Improve aging computer systems needed to operate the utility
  • Increase operational resiliency by adding critical personnel
  • Address the rising costs of supplies and energy
WASTEWATER
  • Increased sludge disposal costs
  • Replace old pump stations
  • Replace aging wastewater plant equipment
  • Address increasing power and supply costs
  • Replace and reline failing pipes • Increase operational resiliency
STORMWATER
  • Stormwater pipe improvements 
  • Minimize the amount of sewage overflow into the Kennebec during extreme weather events
  • Eliminating stormwater from combined sewers to reduce the amount of pollutants in wet weather events

DRINKING WATER RATES

Effective June 1, 2024

Accounts Billed Monthly: For all usage in excess of 100 cubic feet per month: $4.15 per 100 cubic feet (100 cubic feet = 748.1 gallons) or about $0.005 per gallon.

Minimum Charges:

Size of Meter Minimum Charge / Month Water Allowance / Month (Cubic Ft.)
5/8" $19.60 100
3/4" $22.80 100
1" $26.03 100
1 1/2" $38.05 100
2" $48.48 100
3" $62.11 100
4" $88.60 100
6" $147.16 100
8" $252.24 100

 

FIRE PROTECTION CHARGES

Effective June 1, 2024

Municipal Fire Protection: Charge per year for fire hydrants installed as of June 1, 2024.

Community Number of Hydrants Annual Charges
Augusta 461.5 $1,305,648.11
Manchester 24 $67,899.36
Winthrop 13 $36,778.82
Chelsea 1 $2,829.14
Vassalboro 0.5 $1,414.57
Hallowell 5 $14,145.70
Total 505  
Annual cost per hydrant   $2,829.14

 

Other Fire Protection Charges:
Charge per year for fire service connections to water mains.

Size of Connection Annual Charge
1" $438.49
1 1/2" $657.83
2" $876.79
3" $1,315.47
4" $1,753.96
6" $2,630.75
8" $3,507.73
10" $4,384.71
12" $5,261.69

WASTEWATER (SEWER) FEES

Effective June 1, 2024

Name Price
Wastewater Service Charge (Cost/Quarter) $56.04
Wastewater Service Charge (Cost/Month) $18.68
Wastewater User Charge, per 100 cubic feet $6.77
Wastewater Unmetered Customers (Cost/Quarter)   $177.83

Wastewater Permit Fees:

  • Residential, $75
  • Commercial, $100
  • Industrial, $100

Wastewater Availability Fee (charged to new customers):
$10.00 per gallon per day or:

Name Price
Residential Housing $1,000 flat fee
Office Building 15 gal/day/employee X $10/gallon
Apartments $750/unit
Retail Space 3/4 gal/100 sq. ft X $10/gallon

Inspection Fees: If Owner's Contractor performs all work on street Property, $50/hour for projects, $1.00/lineal foot of pipe, $50 x total number of catch basins or manholes.

STORMWATER FEES

Effective July 1, 2019

Name Price
Stormwater, Catch Basins (Cost/Month) $40.59
Stormwater, ERU (Equivalent Rate Unit), Cost per Unit per Month $12.56
1 Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) =
2,700 square feet of impervious surface area 
Residential 1.00 ERU
Multi-Family 0.50 ERU x number of units
Mobile Homes 0.50 ERU
Condos 0.75 ERU
Commercial 1.00 ERU per 2,700 sq. feet impervious area, min 1.0 ERU
Commercial w/ Storage Detention 0.75 ERU per 2,700 sq. feet impervious area