WSSC Water Fees
Your WSSC Water bill includes not only the charge for the water you use. You'll also see various fees, which are explained below.
WSSC Water fees explained
WSSC Water wants to be clear about what you pay for. Here is an explanation of the fees you will see on your bill.
Ready-to-serve charges
Because WSSC Water is a non-profit public utility, our rates produce only enough revenue to support services and operations. Our rate structure consists of both variable rates and fixed fees that reflect the cost of providing services to different customers based on their usage characteristics. The Annotated Code of Maryland authorizes a fixed ready-to-serve charge that represents the fixed costs of delivering service to customers, regardless of the volume of service they use. The ready-to-serve charge has two components: the Account Maintenance Fee and the Infrastructure Investment Fee.
Account Maintenance Fee
The Account Maintenance Fee is a fixed fee that covers the cost of maintaining and servicing each account. It funds a wide range of customer service and meter maintenance costs such as:
- Providing agents to answer the telephone, written and in-person inquiries
- Reading meters and processing meter readings
- Generating and mailing bills
- Collecting payments
- Purchasing, repairing and replacing meters
- Maintaining meter pits
The fee increases with the meter size because it costs more to buy and maintain larger meters.
|
ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE FEE |
||
|---|---|---|
| SMALL METERS | FY 2022 Approved Quarterly Charges Effective July 1, 2021 |
FY 2023 Approved Quarterly Charges Effective July 1, 2022 |
| 5/8" -1" | $16.00 | $17.04 |
| LARGE METERS | QUARTER | |
| 1 - 1/2" | $16.00 | $17.04 |
| 2" | $27.00 | $28.76 |
| 3" | $66.00 | $70.29 |
| 4" | $142.00 | $151.23 |
| 6" | $154.00 | $164.01 |
| 8" | $200.00 | $213.00 |
| 10" | $246.00 | $261.99 |
| DETECTOR CHECK METERS | QUARTER | |
| 2" | $33.00 | $35.15 |
| 4" | $177.00 | $188.51 |
| 6" | $255.00 | $271.58 |
| 8" | $461.00 | $490.97 |
| 10" | $633.00 | $674.15 |
| FIRE SERVICE METERS | QUARTER | |
| 4" | $182.00 | $193.83 |
| 6" | $293.00 | $312.05 |
| 8" | $452.00 | $481.38 |
| 10" | $682.00 | $726.33 |
| 12" | $989.00 | $1,053.29 |
This quarterly fee is prorated based on the number of days in the billing cycle.
Infrastructure Investment Fee
The Infrastructure Investment Fee is a fixed fee that funds part of the debt service associated with water and sewer pipe reconstruction under WSSC Water's Capital Improvements Program.
|
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FEE |
||
|---|---|---|
| SMALL METERS | FY 2022 Approved Quarterly Charges Effective July 1, 2021 |
FY 2023 Approved Quarterly Charges Effective July 1, 2022 |
| 5/8" | $11.00 | $11.72 |
| 3/4" | $12.00 | $12.78 |
| 1" | $14.00 | $14.91 |
| LARGE METERS | QUARTER | |
| 1 - 1/2" | $90.00 | $95.85 |
| 2" | $185.00 | $197.03 |
| 3" | $585.00 | $623.03 |
| 4" | $813.00 | $865.85 |
| 6" | $1,265.00 | $1,347.23 |
| 8" | $2,845.00 | $3,029.93 |
| 10" | $4,425.00 | $4,712.63 |
| FIRE SERVICE METERS |
QUARTER | |
| 4" | $499.00 | $531.44 |
| 6" | $616.00 | $656.04 |
| 8" | $2,524.00 | $2,688.06 |
| 10" | $2,714.00 | $2,890.41 |
| 12" | $5,214.00 | $5,552.91 |
This quarterly fee is prorated based on the number of days in the billing cycle.
Miscellaneous fees
Miscellaneous fees that can appear on your bill include:
| Meter Test Fees | Missed Appointment Fee | ||
| 5/8" to 1" | $260 | First Missed Appointment or Restoration of Service Turn-On | $95 |
| 1 1/2" | $420 | Additional Missed Appointment | $110 |
| 2" and up | $470 | ||
| Property Inspection Fee | Returned Check Fee | ||
| Property Inspection Fee | $120 | Returned Check Fee | $35 |
| Meter Reinstallation Correction Fee (Backward Meter Fee - Customer Responsible) Meter Reinstallation Correction Fee $385 |
|||
| Water Turn-Off, Turn-On Fees * | |
| Customer Requested - Water Turn-Off, Turn-On Fees | |
| Small Meter Turn-Off | $60 |
| Small Meter Turn-On | $90 |
| Large Meter Turn-Off | $200 |
| Large Meter Turn-On | $230 |
| WSSC Water Scheduled Action - Water Turn-Off, Turn-On Fees | |
| Small Meter Turn-Off | |
| Small Meter Turn-On | $135 |
| Large Meter Turn-Off | |
| Large Meter Turn-On | $405 |
Bay Restoration Fund Fee
The Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) uses the revenue from the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) commonly referred to as the "flush tax," to fund improvements to water resource recovery facilities owned by utilities throughout the state, including WSSC Water.
Learn more about the Bay Restoration Fund Fee
Know Your Flow
The more water you use, the higher your bill. Learn how much water a typical household uses - you might find ways to reduce your water use and save money.
Water Consumption Facts & Figures
Financial Assistance programs
WSSC Water has enhanced our financial assistance programs and payment plans to support our customers when they need help the most.
Last Modified: May 19, 2023, 10:20 am EDT