Customers in Pierce County’s sewer service area will see a 3.75 percent increase in their sewer rates starting Jan. 1, 2021.
The Pierce County Council passed Ordinance No. 2019-77 which set the sewer rate as part of the 2020-21 biennial budget. There was also a rate increase in 2020.
Single-family residential customers will pay $53.89 monthly, up from $51.94 in 2020. Multi-family customers will pay $47.08 each month, up from $45.38.
Commercial customers will pay a basic service charge of $16.13 each month, up from $15.55. Commercial volume service charges vary by classification and will also increase by 3.75 percent from 2020. For specific sewer rate information, visit www.piercecountywa.gov/sewer-rates.
Governor Inslee’s Emergency Declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic included relief for sewer customers. Pierce County Council passed Emergency Ordinance No. 2020-44 providing relief from late fees and/or interest for sewer customers effective March 6, 2020 and extended through March 5, 2021.
Demand for County sewer treatment services has grown from treating five million gallons daily in 1984 to more than 19 million gallons daily in 2020. Area population growth is expected to continue to increase. Sewer rates pay for ongoing maintenance and operations of the sewer system to ensure reliable and safe wastewater treatment to protect and enhance water quality and meet the needs of people and businesses.
About the Pierce County sewer system
The Pierce County sewer system collects wastewater from a 117-square-mile area serving 314,000 customers in the communities of Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, South Hill, Graham, Frederickson, Tehaleh, Browns Point and Dash Point, University Place, Lakewood, DuPont, Milton, Steilacoom and portions of Tacoma, Edgewood and Fife.
Evelyn says
I have been paying $58.63 a month for sewer charges, since last March. Now the question is , have I been overpaying, or, because we live in the city of Lakewood, we are already charged more??
John says
On my bill, $51-something is the base rate, then there is 6/7 bucks in local surcharges (I’d be curious to know how high Lakewood’s surcharge is in comparison to other areas!).
Fred says
Other places I have lived based their sewer charge on water consumption with summer rates set by May water usage. This was to allow for lawn watering which consumed lots of water but put no load on sewers. I have always thought it unreasonable that a person living alone pays the same amount as a family of six. Such a rate change would require some coordination with local water utilities, but it would certainly be far more equitable.
Lon Urbauer says
Thanks Fred. I moved to Lakewood about a year and a half ago and was appalled at my sewer bill. I sent a letter to my Lakewood Counsel person almost word for word as your comment. Got a BS response about the cost of operation etc. I’m single also and to be paying the same rate as a family of four just galls me, but what can we do?
Dani says
Sewer charges should be calculated by fresh water volume used.
I’ve lived in places that use brown water for outside irrigation of non-food vegetation. Huge cost savings to the communities.
Dani says
Saying sewer rates are going up due to increased demand from many more homes is flawed math.
Aren’t those many new homes all paying sewer usage fees and taxes? This should lower over all costs per customer, if this were in fact a true public utility, and not (as it appears to be currently) a for profit organization!
0_debt says
I wholeheartedly agree.
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Ernest Bodoh says
What is so interesting in this increase is that the raise is almost twice what my cost of living increase is for the coming year. No wonder I can’t buy anything extra, they keep taking my COLA away and lowering my buying power.