New water rates start January 2026
The Denver Board of Water Commissioners adopted rate changes to help pay for important upgrades, projects and ongoing maintenance and repair work to keep its system operating efficiently while keeping rates as low as good service will allow.
The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and for typical single-family residential customers who receive a bill from Denver Water, if they use 104,000 gallons of water annually the new rates will increase their monthly bill by an average of about $2.45 to $3.30 over the course of the year, depending on if the customer lives in Denver or in one of Denver Water’s suburban distributor districts.
Denver Water expects to invest $1.7 billion over the next 10 years in projects that will maintain, repair, protect and upgrade the system and make it more resilient and flexible in the future. The utility is committed to ensuring the system can reliably deliver safe, clean and affordable water to its customers while managing the impacts of the larger economy, from inflation to supply chain issues.
Residential Treated Water Rates
For meters read on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill
| Meter Size (inches) | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| ⅝″ & ¾″ | $20.91 |
| 1″ | $31.30 |
| 1 ½″ | $60.88 |
| 2″ | $102.31 |
| 3″ | $220.76 |
| 4″ | $386.50 |
| 6″ | $860.29 |
| 8″ | $1,522.47 |
| 10″ | $2,375.18 |
| 12″ | $3,418.41 |
Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons
Single-Family Residential Customers
| Tier | Monthly consumption (gallons) | Rate per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 to average winter consumption (AWC) — see Note 3 | $3.02 |
| Tier 2 | AWC + 15,000 | $5.44 |
| Tier 3 | Greater than AWC + 15,000 | $7.25 |
Private Fireline
| Fireline Size (inches) | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| 1″ | $3.78 |
| 2″ | $6.31 |
| 4″ | $9.74 |
| 6″ | $13.92 |
| 8″ | $24.36 |
| 10″ | $34.80 |
| 12″ | $55.68 |
| 16″ | $139.20 |
| Fire Hydrants | $13.92 |
Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill
| Meter Size (inches) | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| ⅝″ & ¾″ | $20.91 |
| 1″ | $31.30 |
| 1 ½″ | $60.88 |
| 2″ | $102.31 |
| 3″ | $220.76 |
| 4″ | $386.50 |
| 6″ | $860.29 |
| 8″ | $1,522.47 |
| 10″ | $2,375.18 |
| 12″ | $3,418.41 |
Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons
Single-Family Residential Customers
| Tier | Monthly consumption (gallons) | Rate per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 to average winter consumption (AWC) — see Note 3 | $3.03 |
| Tier 2 | AWC + 15,000 | $5.45 |
| Tier 3 | Greater than AWC + 15,000 | $7.26 |
Private Fireline
| Fireline Size (inches) | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| 1″ | $2.56 |
| 2″ | $4.27 |
| 4″ | $6.60 |
| 6″ | $9.43 |
| 8″ | $16.51 |
| 10″ | $23.58 |
| 12″ | $37.73 |
| 16″ | $94.32 |
| Fire Hydrants | $9.52 |
Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill
| Meter Size (inches) | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| ⅝″ & ¾″ | $20.91 |
| 1″ | $31.30 |
| 1 ½″ | $60.88 |
| 2″ | $102.31 |
| 3″ | $220.76 |
| 4″ | $386.50 |
| 6″ | $860.29 |
| 8″ | $1,522.47 |
| 10″ | $2,375.18 |
| 12″ | $3,418.41 |
Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons
Single-Family Residential Customers
| Tier | Monthly consumption (gallons) | Rate per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 to average winter consumption (AWC) — see Note 3 | $4.37 |
| Tier 2 | AWC + 15,000 | $7.87 |
| Tier 3 | Greater than AWC + 15,000 | $10.49 |
Private Fireline
| Fireline Size (inches) | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| 1″ | $4.28 |
| 2″ | $7.15 |
| 4″ | $11.05 |
| 6″ | $15.78 |
| 8″ | $27.62 |
| 10″ | $39.45 |
| 12″ | $63.13 |
| 16″ | $157.81 |
| Fire Hydrants | $15.78 |
Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill
| Meter Size (inches) | Monthly Charge |
|---|---|
| ⅝″ & ¾″ | $20.91 |
| 1″ | $31.30 |
| 1 ½″ | $60.88 |
| 2″ | $102.31 |
| 3″ | $220.76 |
| 4″ | $386.50 |
| 6″ | $860.29 |
| 8″ | $1,522.47 |
| 10″ | $2,375.18 |
| 12″ | $3,418.41 |
Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons
| Customer Class | Rate per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|
| Master Meter | $5.30 |
| Outside the Combined Service Area | $5.88 |
Notes
- Applicability: See Chapter 2 of Denver Water's Operating Rules.
- Payment: Bills are due and payable to Denver Water upon issuance. Monthly bills are delinquent 20 days after the billing date. Late charges will be assessed per Denver Water policy.
- Single Family AWC: A customer's average winter consumption (AWC) is used to determine the tier 1 threshold. The AWC is calculated by averaging each customer’s billed monthly water use from January through March, which is a way of determining essential indoor water use. Denver Water has set the tier 1 minimum threshold at 5,000 gallons, and a maximum of 15,000 gallons. For example, if the customer's AWC is less than 5,000 gallons, tier 1 is 0 to 5,000 gallons. If the AWC is over 15,000 gallons, tier 1 is 0 to 15,000 gallons. Volume rates are applied to billed monthly usage.