It could cost you more to flush in ’24-’25 in Pierce County. Here’s what we know
Your sewer rate might be going up, according to the proposed Pierce County 2024-2025 budget.
Residents who use the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant could expect to see a 4.25% increase in their sewer rate in 2024 and a 4.1% increase in the sewer rate in 2025, according to a proposal by the Planning & Public Works department.
The existing rate is $59.06/month. It would be $61.57/month in 2024 and $64.09/month in 2025 if the Pierce County Council approves the proposal.
Those who contract with the Cascadia Wastewater Treatment Plant could expect to see a 4.45% increase in their sewer rate in 2024 and 4.32% increase in 2025. The existing rate is $65.17/month. In 2024 it would be $68.07/month and in 2025 it would be $71.01/month under the new proposal. An additional 0.2% increase is proposed for Tehaleh community customers to support additional staffing needed, according to the department.
Rate adjustments are expected to bring in $6.57 million in new revenue. These adjustments are increased to cover inflationary and operational costs, according to the department. The total revenue will be $165.6 million, according to communications manager Erin Babbo.
The new rates are effective Jan. 1 of each year. The proposed rate increases are part of the 2024-2025 proposed budget, which is expected to be approved by the Pierce County Council on Nov. 21.
Compared to other providers in western Washington, Pierce County operators charge some of the lowest rates in the region (residential sewer rates are currently $151.62/month in Seattle, according to a rate comparison conducted by the department).
In 2021 the Pierce County Council also approved a sewer rate increase, effective Jan. 1, 2023. For a single family residential class with service from the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, the rates increased from $51.94/month in 2020 and $53.89/month in 2021 to $57.34/month in 2022 and $59.06/month in 2023.
Those increases were done due to population growth and demand increases, as well as to meet ongoing operation and wastewater infrastructure costs, according to county documents.
