Rates and Fees
Affordability for our customers is a top priority at Austin Water. Rates are reviewed annually and set to balance operating costs, infrastructure investment and long-term reliability.
- Water and Wastewater Rates
2026–2027 Rates (effective Oct. 1, 2026)
- Residential customers (PDF)
- Commercial customers (PDF)
- Multi-family customers (PDF)
- Large volume customers (PDF)
- Wholesale customers (PDF)
- Reclaimed water customers (PDF)
2025–2026 Rates (effective Nov. 1, 2025)
- Residential customers (PDF)
- Commercial customers (PDF)
- Multi-family customers (PDF)
- Large volume customers (PDF)
- Wholesale customers (PDF)
- Reclaimed water customers (PDF)
Rate Study and Supporting Documents
In keeping with water utility industry best practices, Austin Water reviews rates with a consultant every five to seven years. When rates were last studied, monthly water service bills decreased in 2018 and remained flat, with only one modest increase in 2024. The most recent evaluation examined rising operating costs, infrastructure needed to serve a growing population and investments required to address climate change impacts. The rate adjustment was set below the cost of service identified by Austin Water's third-party consultant, NewGen Strategies and Solutions.
- 2027 Rate Adjustment Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Hoja informativa sobre el ajuste de la tasa de 2026 (PDF)
- 2025 Affordability Metrics Report (PDF)
- 2024 Water and Wastewater Utility Cost of Service and Rate Design Study — prepared by NewGen Strategies and Solutions (PDF)
Budget Documents
- Impact Fees
Impact fees, also known as Capital Recovery Fees, are an infrastructure financing mechanism for water, wastewater and reclaimed water system investments driven by growth. They help Austin Water keep service rates lower for existing customers by letting new growth pay for its share of infrastructure costs. In 2023, Austin City Council passed an ordinance updating the impact fees Austin Water may assess. The vote followed more than a year of public outreach and stakeholder input coordinated through the Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
Texas state law requires impact fees to be updated every five years. The revision process requires Austin Water to update Land Use Assumptions and the Capital Improvement Plan covering new development over the next 10 years and to determine the maximum allowable water and wastewater impact fees that may be collected. The Texas Local Government Code (TLGC), Chapter 212, prohibits connection of utility service to any parcel of land that is not legally platted or excepted from the platting requirements of the municipality. TLGC 212.004 provides an exception to platting, and Section 25-4-2 of the Land Development Code outlines the City's exceptions from platting requirements. This exception is also referred to as Land Status Determination.
A plat is a survey of land identifying property boundaries and any easements, flood zones, roadways and access rights of way. The date of the official plat is determined by when it was recorded and filed with the applicable county office — Travis County or Williamson County. If an exception is allowed, the land status determination is applied for through the City of Austin; once issued, that date determines the applicable fee schedule. The City of Austin's Property Profile Web Map can be used to determine if a property is subject to impact fees. Add the "Impact Fee Boundary 2018" layer under the "Austin Water" group to see current impact fee zones. For lots platted before Jan. 1, 2014, add the "Impact Fee Zones Pre-2014" layer under the same group.
Current water and wastewater impact fees per service unit are shown in the tables below. For properties platted before Jan. 1, 2014, fees also vary by location. Other fees may apply, including meter and inspection fees. For more information, call 512-972-0000, extension 4.
Impact Fee Schedule — Lots Platted After Oct. 1, 2023
Zone Water Fee Wastewater Fee Combined Fee All zones $4,800 $2,900 $7,700 Impact Fee Schedule — Lots Platted Oct. 1, 2018 through Sept. 30, 2023
Zone Water Fee Wastewater Fee Combined Fee All zones $4,700 $2,500 $7,200 Impact Fee Schedule — Lots Platted Jan. 1, 2014 through Sept. 30, 2018
Zone Water Fee Wastewater Fee Combined Fee All zones $5,400 $2,200 $7,600 Impact Fee Schedule — Lots Platted Oct. 1, 2007 through Dec. 31, 2013
Zone Water Fee Wastewater Fee Combined Fee CURE $700 $400 $1,100 Urban Watersheds $800 $500 $1,300 DDZ — Inside $1,000 $600 $1,600 DDZ — ETJ $1,800 $1,000 $2,800 DWPZ — Inside $2,200 $1,200 $3,400 DWPZ — ETJ $2,500 $1,400 $3,900 Impact Fee Schedule — Lots Platted Before Oct. 1, 2007
Zone Water Fee Wastewater Fee Combined Fee CURE $500 $300 $800 Urban Watersheds $600 $400 $1,000 DDZ — Inside $700 $400 $1,100 DDZ — ETJ $1,300 $800 $2,100 DWPZ — Inside $1,500 $1,200 $2,700 DWPZ — ETJ $1,700 $1,300 $3,000 Impact Fee Reports
- Purple Choice
Opt into the Purple Choice program to support the expansion of Austin's recycled water network.