How much will my bill increase?
Every customer is different, but a “typical” user can expect to see the bill rise by 9 percent, to $99.96 per month, from the current $91.81. That’s an increase of about $8 per month.

When does this go into effect?
The new rates would go into effect on July 1, 2019. Subsequent 9 percent increases would take effect July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021.

Why are you doing this?
We must spend money to fix our pipes, treatment plants, and other critical facilities. In prior decades Baltimore failed to spend enough money to improve its old, failing infrastructure; the result was catastrophic water main breaks and a legacy of sewer overflows and backups. Now we are investing intelligently in order to prevent service disruptions.

What have you done with the money from recent rate hikes?
We’ve been using that money to reline, repair, and replace more than 300 miles of sewer mains. We’ve used it to rehab or replace at least 15 miles of water mains each year. We’ve completed half a billion dollars in work at our sewer treatment plants that will clean the Bay and comply with rigid new regulations. We’re building new facilities to safely store our drinking water and to more efficiently treat our sewage so that we can reduce the volume of wastewater spilling into our streets, streams, and basements.

Is there an end in sight for aggressive rate hikes?
We forecast an ability to start dialing back on the 9 percent increases beginning in another three years, and in Fiscal 2027 our rates should adjust closer to the rate of inflation.

Can the federal government help?
Low-interest government loans have helped. We recently won a $202 million federal loan under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act that, compared to conventional bonds, will save us $40 million in repayment costs. We've also used State Revolving Fund loans to save nearly $300 million to save nearly $300 million since 2013.

What if I have trouble paying my bills?
We are offering a new payment assistance program called Baltimore H2O Assists. For qualifying customers, it reduces water and sewer use charges by 43 percent and removes both the Bay Restoration and Stormwater Remediation fees. That would cut almost $40 from a “typical” bill.

How do I know if I qualify?
The rules follow federal poverty guidelines, based on household size and income. Under current guidelines, a family of three with a household income at or below $36,365 would qualify for Baltimore H2O Assists. Regardless of whether you qualify, payment plans will still be available for customers who fall behind on their bills.

When do Baltimore H2O Assists go into effect?
If approved by the Board of Estimates, the program would go into effect on July 1, 2019, at the same time as the new rates. We’ll have additional information in the months ahead and hope to work with advocacy groups to help us publicize the program and assist qualified customers to enroll.

Breakdown of the proposed rates

Proposed Customer Impacts