Water and Sewer rates
The Water and Sewer rates for FY24 (effective July 1st, 2023 through June 30th, 2024) are as follows reflecting an 8.9% increase from the previous year:
Water Rates
| Meter Size | Inside the CIty Base Rate | Outside the CIty Base Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5/8" (most residents) | $35.70 | $58.97 |
| 1" | $80.42 | $122.56 |
| 1.5" | $154.96 | $227.44 |
| 2" | $244.40 | $353.32 |
Usage is measured in units. A unit equals 748 gallons or 100 cubic feet. The usage rate for both inside and outside City water users is $4.32 per unit or roughly half a cent per gallon.
Wastewater (sewer) rates*:
Single residential base rate is $51.24 per month plus $5.21 per unit of usage. Wastewater unit charges are based upon water consumption i.e. if you use one unit of water you are also billed for one unit of sewer.
Multi-family residential metered with a single meter pay a base rate of $46.54 per dwelling unit per month, plus $5.21 per unit of usage.
Small Commercial services pay a base rate of $51.24 per month plus $5.21 per unit.
Larger commercial services are assigned a “dwelling equivalency” base rate, reflective of their capacity to impact the treatment plant, based on their average water usage for the previous fiscal year, plus $5.21 per unit of usage.
*For FY24, the summer sewer averaging program has been suspended. Full sewer charges will apply to all usage over the summer.
Other Charges
- A late fee of 5% on the current month's billing will be assessed if payment is not received by the 20th of the month.
- For “new” accounts, including a change in ownership, there is a non-refundable charge of $25. This charge does not apply for a change in renter information.
- If water has been shut off for non-payment, there will be an additional charge of $100 that must be paid before service can be restored.
- After-hours call-outs for Public Works will be billed at $100 per call.
- Door hang fee is $10.
Notes:
The City has worked very hard to minimize water and wastewater increases during some of the highest inflation in 50 years combined with aging infrastructure needing a lot of repair. In 2023, we finally caught up with increases needed to balance the operational budget - however, the city must build a specific reserve amount per year to meet ongoing significant costs. (i.e. think of this like household budgeting, we are now fully paying the bills but must set aside some savings for when something unexpected like the car breaks down or we need a new roof). This is responsible budgeting and the city takes this very seriously, as failure to do so would cost the citizens far more down the road in unexpected loans and repairs. As such, the current anticipation is that for the next four budget cycles, that an increase in rates of 4% above the National Construction Cost Index inflationary measure will be needed.
Often asked is how Waldport ranks in terms of its water rates. This chart shows rates, as of June 2023, for all of Lincoln County. Essentially Waldport has stayed 7th lowest in the county.
| City or Water District | Rate assuming 3000 gal of water (4 units) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Seal Rock Water District | $71.50 | 1 |
| Yachats | $65.66 | 2 |
| Depoe Bay | $65.27 | 3 |
| Gleneden Beach Water DIstrict | $65.00 (includes HOA fee) | 4 |
| Siletz | $60.00 | 5 |
| South West Lincoln Water PUD | $58.01 | 6 |
| Waldport (new FY24 rate) | $52.98 | 7* |
| Waldport (old FY23 rate) | $48.66 | 7 |
| Toledo | $48.03 (includes $3 street fee) | 8 |
| Newport | $45.37 (includes stormwater fee) | 9 |
| Lincoln City | $43.89 | 10 |