• Current Rates
• Metering Fees
• Why Are Rate Increases Needed?
• New — a separate montly charge on April 2009 WASA bills

Current Rates

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Metering Fees

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Why Are Rate Increases Needed?

The proposed rate increases are primarily needed to pay for WASA's ten-year, $2.1 billion capital improvement program (CIP). The CIP includes the initial phases of our combined sewer overflow reduction plan which will help clean up the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and Rock Creek as well as the $300 million plan to eliminate the publicly-owned portion of lead service lines. In addition, many of the projects in the CIP will reduce operating costs over the long run. This Document [PDF 1.3 MB] provides additional information on the proposed rate increases.

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New — a separate monthly charge on April 2009 WASA bills

The impervious surface area billing program is an investment in reducing pollution in the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek. The charge applies to all lots, parcels, properties and private streets in the District.

1. What is an impervious surface area charge? The impervious surface area charge is based upon the amount of impervious surface on your property. Impervious surface area is used as the basis for this charge since it is a major contributor to storm water run off entering the District's sewer system. An impervious surface is a man-made surface that cannot be easily penetrated by water such as rooftops, driveways, patios, parking lots and other paved areas, tennis courts, swimming pools, and any path or walkway that is covered by impervious material.
2. Why is the impervious surface area charge necessary? The charge is necessary to recover the costs of the $2.2 billion federally-mandated Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan (CSO LTCP). The 20-year CSO LTCP will reduce the discharge of excess flows into local waterways from the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) combined sewer system. Combined sewer systems were constructed around the turn of the 19th century to carry sanitary sewage and storm water run off in the same pipe.
3. Why did WASA decide to allocate the costs of the CSO LTCP in this manner? The cost of combined sewer overflow control has been part of the sewer rate, which is based on the metered amount of water usage. The WASA Board of Directors determined that the impervious surface area charge is a more equitable basis to recover the costs of the CSO LTCP than the volumetric charge, since the charge is based on a property's contribution to storm water run off.
4. Why has WASA decided to bill for this charge now? The CSO LTCP program is currently underway and the impervious surface area charge is designed to cover program costs.
5. How is the amount of the charge determined? The charge is based upon an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). An ERU is defined as the amount of impervious surface area measured in square feet based on a statistical median for a single family residential property. Initially, all residential customers will be assessed one (1) ERU. All non-residential customers shall be assessed ERUs based upon the total amount of impervious surface on each lot. This total amount of impervious surface will be converted into ERUs.
6. Who sets the impervious surface area charge? The WASA Board of Directors sets the impervious surface area charge.
7. Is the impervious surface area charge a one-time fee? No, WASA customers will see this charge on their monthly bill beginning April 2009.
8. Do other cities have an impervious surface area charge? Yes, other cities have this charge to cover the cost of managing pollution from storm water run off.

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