Water Rates
Water and Sewer Rates
The City of Steamboat Springs would like to remind everyone that the water and sewer rates increased effective January 1, 2025. The current rates were determined after the City of Steamboat Springs went through an extensive rate study by an outside consulting firm. These rates were presented to City Council and approved at the end of the year. The change in rates is to ensure that the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure can be maintained at an appropriate level.
Information
The water team is available to assist with inquiries regarding the new pricing structure, payment options, and available assistance programs. For more information contact the Steamboat Springs Utility Billing at 970-871-6303 or email utilities@steamboatsprings.net.
Utility Assistance
- The city’s low-income and senior utility rate program provided 50% discount on monthly base rates and volume charges for qualifying residents. In addition, other local and federal financial assistance programs exist for utility bills.
- TheThe Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income households in Routt County, Colorado, pay for winter home heating costs. Individuals can apply for LEAP through the Routt County Department of Human Services.
Water Rates (2025-2027)
The proposed water rates reflect an annual 20% increase in revenue requirements for the water utility. Detailed rate tables are shown below:
| Retail Water Rates | 2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Base Rate – Residential/City | $31.28 |
$36.75 |
$41.72 |
$46.59 |
| Monthly Base Rate – Low Income/Senior | $31.28 |
$18.38 |
$20.86 |
$23.30 |
| Retail Water Rates: Commercial & Combined | 2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾” Water Meter | $16.52 |
$31.37 |
$37.65 |
$45.18 |
| 1” Water Meter | $26.97 |
$51.48 |
$61.78 |
$74.14 |
| 1-½” Water Meter | $54.54 |
$101.75 |
$122.10 |
$142.52 |
| 2” Water Meter | $84.47 |
$162.08 |
$194.50 |
$233.40 |
| 3” Water Meter | $179.10 |
$353.11 |
$423.74 |
$508.49 |
| 4" Water Meter | $306.55 |
$634.64 |
$761.57 |
$913.89 |
| 6" Water Meter | n/a |
$1308.29 |
$1569.95 |
$1883.94 |
| 8" Water Meter | n/a |
$2816.46 |
$3379.76 |
$4055.72 |
| 10" Water Meter | n/a |
$4224.09 |
$5068.91 |
$6082.70 |
| Residential Volume Rate per 1,000 gallons (1) | 2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 4,000 gallons | $3.60 |
$5.19 |
$6.23 |
$7.48 |
| 4,001 - 12,000 gallons | $5.40 |
$7.79 |
$9.35 |
$11.22 |
| 12,001 - 20,000 gallons | $8.26 |
$11.94 |
$14.33 |
$17.20 |
| 20,001 - 28,000 gallons | $10.78 |
$15.57 |
$18.69 |
$22.43 |
| > 28,000 gallons | $16.17 |
$23.36 |
$28.04 |
$33.65 |
(1) - Low income/senior rate 50% of residential rate
Wastewater Rates (2025-2027)
The wastewater rates include moderate increases to base and volume rates for all customer classes to fund critical infrastructure needs.
| Wastewater Rates | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Base Rate – Residential/City | $39.90 | $41.57 | $43.23 | $44.91 |
| Monthly Base Rate – Low Income/Senior | $19.95 | $20.78 | $21.62 | $22.45 |
| Tree Haus | $35.00 | $36.20 | $37.39 | $38.59 |
| Steamboat II | $39.40 | $40.71 | $42.01 | $43.32 |
| Mt. Werner Water | $17.60 | $20.53 | $21.56 | $22.64 |
| Wastewater Rates - Commercial & Combined | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾” Water Meter | $18.35 | $21.20 | $22.31 | $23.48 |
| 1” Water Meter | $29.56 | $32.61 | $34.30 | $36.07 |
| 2” Water Meter | $91.52 | $98.99 | $103.99 | $109.24 |
| Commercial & Combined | 2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾” Water Meter | $18.35 |
$21.20 |
$22.31 |
$23.48 |
| 1” Water Meter | $29.56 |
$32.61 |
$34.30 |
$36.07 |
| 1-½” Water Meter | $60.25 |
$83.82 |
$88.07 |
$92.53 |
| 2” Water Meter | $91.52 |
$98.99 |
$103.99 |
$109.24 |
| 3” Water Meter | $190.24 |
$190.24 |
$190.24 |
$190.24 |
| 4" Water Meter | $325.33 |
$325.33 |
$325.33 |
$325.33 |
| 6" Water Meter | n/a |
$449.92 |
$472.47 |
$496.15 |
| 8" Water Meter | n/a |
$778.06 |
$817.02 |
$857.93 |
| 10" Water Meter | n/a |
$1344.99 |
$1412.29 |
$1482.96 |
| Volume Rate per 1,000 gallons | 2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial City | $8.74 |
$8.89 |
$9.18 |
$9.64 |
| Tree Haus | $40.00 |
$120.00 |
$120.00 |
$120.00 |
| Steamboat II | $7.40 |
$8.56 |
$8.99 |
$9.44 |
| Mt. Werner Water | $8.70 |
$8.99 |
$9.29 |
$9.60 |
Plant Investment Fee Increases (PIFs)
PIFs will increase in 2025 to fund growth-related capital projects. These fees are assessed per fixture unit and distributed as follows:
| Volume Rate per 1,000 gallons | 2024 |
2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Wastewater (WW) | $57.67 |
$58.88 |
| Water | $38.27 |
$52.01 |
| Water Resources | $54.13 |
$55.00 |