Water Rates

There are dozens of major projects identified in Birmingham Water Works’ infrastructure improvement plan, ranging from replacing aging water mains to improvements in filter plants, water supply and drinking water distribution infrastructure, information technology, security, buildings, and planned maintenance and repairs.
With rapidly changing technology, aging infrastructure, and new regulations the cost of running a complex water system continues to rise. All our costs, including day-to-day operations and unplanned work, such as main breaks, are paid for solely by rates and fees, not taxes. BWWB’s operating rules require that we only charge customers for the cost of providing service.
Birmingham Water Works’ water rates have been increasing at a slower rate than other water rates nationally and are comparable to other major water utility water rates in a national 2018 comparison.
Current water rates went into effect on January 1, 2024. 

Download the full BWWB Ratebook. 

 

Residential and Irrigation Rate Structure

Birmingham Water Works’ residential and irrigation rate structure includes three tiers based on how much water you use and is designed to keep water affordable for residential customers and to encourage efficiency for customers that use water solely for irrigation.
For each monthly billing cycle, water used in the first tier up to 4 ccf is charged at the lowest rate to ensure that every residential customer has enough water for essential needs. A ccf is the unit of measure your water meter reads and stands for one-hundred cubic feet of water, which is equal to 748 gallons.
The second tier is for water use between 4 ccf and up to 15 ccf. Water use in this tier is charged a middle rate. Water use of more than 15 ccf is charged in the third tier, which is the highest rate.
In addition to variable charges based on water use, the rate structure also includes a monthly base charge that relates to the size of your water meter.

 

Residential and Irrigation Water Rates
Monthly Base Service Charge
This charge helps recover certain fixed costs including: 1) meter reading, billing, collection and customer service costs; 2) a portion of fixed operational costs; and 3) a portion of debt service costs. The base service charge covers the cost to provide infrastructure and facilities required to serve the customer around-the-clock whether the customer uses any water or not.
*typical residential meter size

 

Variable Water Rates for Residential and Irrigation Customers ($ per ccf)
ccf = hundred cubic feet of water, which is equal to 748 gallons.
Residential customers are charged variable rates depending on the total ccf used.  These rates are broken into three tiers.  The Tier 1 rate is charged for consumption up to 4 ccf.  The Tier 2 rate is charged for consumption levels 4ccf to 15 ccf.  Then the Tier 3 rate is charged to all consumption greater than 15ccf.  For example, if your consumption for the month was 6 ccf, then you would be charged 4 ccf at the Tier 1 rate, and 2 ccf at the Tier 2 rate. 

 

 

 

Commercial Rate Structure

Commercial customers are charged a uniform rate per ccf of water use per monthly billing cycle. In addition to variable charges based on water use, the rate structure also includes a monthly base charge that relates to the size of your water meter. A ccf is the unit of measure your water meter reads and stands for one-hundred cubic feet of water, which is equal to 748 gallons.

 

Commercial Water Rates
Monthly Base Service Charge

 

Water Rates for Commercial Customers Customers ($ per ccf)
ccf = hundred cubic feet of water, which is equal to 748 gallons

 

 

Wholesale Customer Rates
Wholesale customer accounts with a base service charge will be charged monthly for the amount agreed upon, or water used for that month, whichever is greater.