Ordinance No. 4577, which amends the Municipal Code of the City of Columbia to approve a multi-year water rate increase for both Urban and Suburban customers, was approved by the Columbia City Council on January 8, 2026.
These new rates are scheduled to take effect annually on March 1 of each year, beginning in 2026, and are noticed as follows under direction of the Board of Public Utilities.
Current Residential Water Rate Structure
| Gallons Used Per Month | Urban Area | Suburban Area |
| 0-8,000 Gallons | $3.60 per 1,000 Gallons | $4.60 per 1,000 Gallons |
| 8,001-20,000 Gallons | $4.10 per 1,000 Gallons | $5.10 per 1,000 Gallons |
| Over 20,000 Gallons | $4.35 per 1,000 Gallons | $5.35 per 1,000 Gallons |
| Customer Charge | $16.75 | $22.25 |
Current Commercial and Industrial Water Rate Structure
| Gallons Used Per Month | Urban Area | Suburban Area |
| 0-8,000 Gallons | Commercial - $3.60 / 1,000g
Industrial - $3.30 / 1,000g |
Commercial - $4.60 / 1,000g
Industrial - $4.30 / 1,000g |
| 8,001-20,000 Gallons | Commercial - $4.10 / 1,000g
Industrial - $3.80 / 1,000g |
Commercial - $5.10 / 1,000g
Industrial - $4.80 / 1,000g |
| Over 20,000 Gallons | Commercial - $4.35 / 1,000g
Industrial - $4.05 / 1,000g |
Commercial - $5.35 / 1,000g
Industrial - $5.05 / 1,000g |
| Customer Charge | Commercial - $26.25
Industrial - $86.15 |
Commercial - $32.00
Industrial - $86.15 |
Current Sale for Resale: $3.75 / 1,000 Gallons
New Sale for Resale: $4.50 / 1,000 Gallons (Eff. March 1, 2026)
New Residential Water Rate Structure (Eff. March 1, 2026)
| Gallons Used Per Month | Urban Area | Suburban Area |
| 0-8,000 Gallons | $4.32 per 1,000 Gallons | $5.52 per 1,000 Gallons |
| 8,001-20,000 Gallons | $4.92 per 1,000 Gallons | $6.12 per 1,000 Gallons |
| Over 20,000 Gallons | $5.22 per 1,000 Gallons | $6.42 per 1,000 Gallons |
| Customer Charge | $20.10 | $26.70 |
| Multi-Unit Charge (Residential) | $5.28 | $5.40 |
| Multi-Unit Charge (Commercial) | $7.26 | $7.50 |
New Commercial and Industrial Water Rate Schedule (Eff. March 1, 2026)
| Gallons Used Per Month | Urban Area | Suburban Area |
| 0-8,000 Gallons | Commercial - $4.32 / 1,000g
Industrial - $4.32 / 1,000g |
Commercial - $5.52 / 1,000g
Industrial - $5.52 / 1,000g |
| 8,001-20,000 Gallons | Commercial - $4.92 / 1,000g
Industrial - $4.92 / 1,000g |
Commercial - $6.12 / 1,000g
Industrial - $6.12 / 1,000g |
| Over 20,000 Gallons | Commercial - $5.22 / 1,000g
Industrial - $5.22 / 1,000g |
Commercial - $6.42 / 1,000g
Industrial - $6.42 / 1,000g |
| Customer Charge | Commercial - $31.50
Industrial - $103.38 |
Commercial - $38.40
Industrial - $103.38 |
The current Impact Fee schedule will be amended to be effective July 1, 2026 with the following fees replacing the current fee schedule.
Impact Fee Schedule
| Meter Size (IN) | July 1, 2026 Impact Fee | *Projected 2027 Impact Fee | *Projected 2028 Impact Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 | $6,000 | $6,500 | $7,000 |
| 1 | $10,000 | $10,833 | $11,667 |
| 2 | $32,000 | $34,667 | $37,333 |
| 3 | $100,000 | $108,333 | $116,667 |
| 4 | $200,000 | $216,667 | $233,333 |
| 6 | $500,000 | $541,667 | $583,333 |
| 8 | $1,000,000 | $1,083,333 | $1,166,667 |
| 10 | $1,720,000 | $1,863,333 | $2,006,667 |
| *Subject to Change |