Rate Changes 2024

The monthly wastewater utility rate is comprised of two different charges. There is a City of Shoreline Wastewater Utility charge that funds daily operations, maintenance, and construction/ replacement of necessary infrastructure. There is also a treatment charge that is charged by either King County or the City of Edmonds, depending on your service address. 

As these operational, treatment, repair, and construction charges change year-to-year, the rates are re-assessed to ensure that you continue to receive safe, reliable, and efficient wastewater utility service. When compared to wastewater utility rates in the surrounding region, the City of Shoreline rates are very favorable. For those that need financial assistance, there are several options that are available. Visit the Payment Options page for our Low-Income Senior or Low-Income Disabled Citizen discount application and contact information for area agencies that provide utility assistance.

Residential Wastewater Utility Rates for 2024

Ratepayers with King County treatment (price per month)

Ratepayers with City of Edmonds treatment (price per month)

Commercial Wastewater Utility Rates for 2024

The rates for commercial properties are calculated slightly differently than residential rates. Residential rates are a flat rate, while commercial rates are calculated based on the number of units, or the residential equivalents (RCEs). For billing purposes an RCE is determined by taking the monthly average of water that flows through the water meter, measured in CCF (100 cubic feet or 748 gallons), divided by 7.5. The monthly city rate is determined by taking the higher of units or RCE and multiplying by the commercial City fee listed above. The treatment charge is determined using the same methodology, but there is a 1 RCE minimum. 

The below rates are per unit or RCE; whichever is higher.

Ratepayers with King County treatment (price per month)

Ratepayers with City of Edmonds treatment (price per month)

The drivers for the rate increase include:

• Incorporating projects included in the Wastewater Master Plan into the rate study.  The updated Master Plan was adopted by Ronald Wastewater prior to the City’s assumption of RWD.  The number and cost of projects included in that master plan is significantly increased from the prior Master Plan and represents work that is needed to address aging infrastructure and extend the life of the Wastewater Utility.  This was by far the most significant driver in the rate increases anticipated for the next 6 years. 
  
  
• In 2022, the City performed a comprehensive rate study and evaluated several financial policies.  Policies adopted impacted the rates that are charged, in some cases increasing rates and in some cases reducing rates as follows:
  • Utilizing a balance of debt and pay-as-you go funding for capital projects to spread the impact of the cost of extending the life of the sewer system over time. This decreased the impact on rates
  • Resuming the imposition of fees to cover credit card processing costs and late fees that were temporarily suspended during the response to COVID.  This change decreased the impact on rates
  • Extending the current low-income senior home-owners discount to low-income customers of all ages.  This change increased the impact on rates
    
    
• Finally, the impacts of inflation are also experienced in the operation of the wastewater utility.  Employee salaries, benefits, supplies and materials necessary to operate the utility have all increased for the wastewater utility in the same way they do for you.  We did not provide an across the board inflationary increase, except to match the cost of living increase for staffing,  Instead, we evaluated each line item and only included increases on a case by case basis where no other options were available.   Additionally, we made some adjustments to move some previously contracted work in-house where we think that we will experience net savings in the future.   However, overall,  the impacts of inflation increased the rates.

 2022 Wastewater Rate Study

Approximately every six years the City engages an external consultant to evaluate its rate funding for wastewater operations. The most recent rate study was conducted in 2022. View the results of the study.