Customer Support
-
Beginning May 1, 2023, the average monthly residential water bill will increase about $2.16 for water and $4.19 for wastewater, with no increase for stormwater. See our FY24 Rate Book or the Rates FAQ sheet for more detailed information.
-
The new rates, approved by the City Council, will fund the ongoing maintenance and improvement of Kansas City’s water infrastructure, including the wastewater investments required by the federally mandated Smart Sewer Program.
-
The FY24 Average Residential Bill will average $121.35 per month, which includes $44.49 for water (based on actual average monthly usage of 5.24 CCF, or 3,920 gallons), $74.36 for wastewater (based on actual average monthly usage of 4.37 CCF, or 3,269 gallons), and $2.50 for stormwater (based on an average of 2,500 square feet of impervious surface area). Your actual bill will vary depending on the number of days of service (typically 29-31 days), the amount of water used, and the amount of impervious surface (the size of structures and paved surfaces that cannot absorb rainwater).
-
In order to comply with a Federal Consent Decree, wastewater rates are increasing to pay for the Smart Sewer Program, a federally-mandated program to create a cleaner, healthier environment for our community and to improve the quality of water in area lakes, rivers, and streams. The plan calls for reducing and preventing overflows and other sewer-system incursions over a period of 30 years (2010 through 2040).
-
A cost of service study is conducted by an outside consultant each year. The study follows the American Water Works Association’s M1 Manual, “Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges” and the Water Environment Federation’s “Financing and Charges for Wastewater Systems.” These industry-standard rate-setting models are consistent throughout the United States and help ensure that the fees charged are directly related to the cost of providing service to our customers.
-
No. There is no difference in residential rates based on your location. If you live in the south part of Kansas City, your rate is exactly the same as someone who lives in the north part of Kansas City, and vice versa. While the rates are the same, bills can differ among customers due to the amount of water used, the size of the water meter, and the amount of impervious surface on a property.
-
Wastewater charges on your KC Water bill will be different from January-April due to the seasonal adjustment of wastewater bills. KC Water uses water consumption as the basis for wastewater charges, which pay for sewer pipes and sewage treatment. During winter months, when usage typically is lower than summer and fall, wastewater charges are based on the actual amount of water used in the home. From May through December, wastewater charges are an average of the four, lower-use winter months because residential customers use water that does not enter the sewer system, e.g., watering lawns and gardens, washing cars, or filling swimming pools.
-
Yes. KC Water is working hard to rebuild Kansas City, and we have 82 water and wastewater infrastructure projects, totaling $240 million, on tap for Fiscal Year 2022. These projects will improve water quality, protect public health, meet regulatory requirements, reduce long-term operational costs, improve overall system efficiency, enhance service reliability, build and maintain utility infrastructure, promote economic development, and serve future generations.
This work is part of our ongoing Capital Improvement Plan. Infrastructure investment means stronger neighborhoods, economic vitality, and jobs. A generation of infrastructure investments in the mid-20th century is now reaching the end of its useful life. KC Water has a strategy for reinvesting in our system to enhance system reliability. Capital improvement projects are a major part of that strategy to better serve our customers.
We’re able to make these investments thanks to customers like you and the rates you pay, and to voters who have approved the issuance of revenue bonds. That support has allowed KC Water to take advantage of low-cost financing, which results in lower borrowing costs and more dollars for improving our water infrastructure. Thank you for your investment in Kansas City’s future!
-
Yes! Thanks to you, we were able to launch the strategic and data-driven Water Main Replacement (WMR) Program. The program started after 2012 when there were 1,844 water main breaks. Many breaks were because of the drought, but others were due to the advanced age of the pipe. Through the WMR Program, our goal is to proactively replace one percent of the system, or 28 miles, of break-prone pipe each year.
Kansas City’s first water pipes were installed in 1874, and much of Kansas City’s drinking water infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life. Our pipes are 44 years-old, on average. We operate and maintain 2,800 miles of pipe. Lined up, end to end, those pipes would stretch from New York City to Los Angeles.
In 2020 Kansas City experienced 816 main breaks, a 55-percent decrease in eight years. Since the WMR Program began we’ve replaced more than 200 miles of water main. We’re working hard to rebuild Kansas City. Fewer water main breaks mean increased service reliability and fewer disruptions for our customers.
-
KC Water proposes a budget to the City Manager each fiscal year. The City Manager and Mayor then submit the budget to the 13-member elected City Council. The City Council acts as KC Water’s governance board and has the final say in KC Water’s budget and associated rate structure. Public hearings take place each spring, and new rates take effect May 1, the beginning of the City’s fiscal year.
-
Yes. Each year KC Water’s financials are analyzed by an independent external auditing firm in accordance with government auditing standards, and our financial statements are presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). KC Water has been nationally recognized for its excellence in financial reporting. Annual audits, as well as KC Water’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, are available to the public here.
If you need more information or need to request your deposit refund please Contact Us or Submit an Online Request