Hagerstown Residents Face New Water and Sewer Rates Starting October 1

Hagerstown, MD residents can anticipate changes to their utility bills as new water and wastewater rates, along with associated fees, are scheduled to take effect on October 1. This adjustment to the city’s utility pricing structure was announced by the City of Hagerstown and will impact the cost of essential water and sewer services for all customers.

The implementation of these new rates signifies an adjustment to the financial model supporting the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure. Such adjustments are typically made to ensure the continued operation, maintenance, and necessary upgrades of these critical systems. Residents can expect these changes to be reflected in their billing statements following the October 1 effective date, meaning their upcoming bills will reflect the updated pricing structure for water usage and wastewater treatment.

All customers will now be billed based on actual usage under the same four-tiered rate model, replacing old rate structures to ensure uniform pricing for both water and wastewater. Under this system, tiers increase by volume (Tier 1: 0–9,000 gallons; Tier 2: 9,001–18,000 gallons; Tier 3: 18,001–36,000 gallons; Tier 4: over 36,000 gallons). As a result, lower-volume users consuming under 200 gallons per day will see a decrease in their quarterly bill—for instance, an inside customer using 150 gallons per day sees a $25.53 decrease to $155.68—while higher-volume users consuming over 200 gallons per day will experience an increase, such as an inside customer using 500 gallons per day seeing a $15.16 increase to $734.82. The new structure also maintains fixed quarterly and monthly fees based on meter size and categorizes fees distinctly for Inside, Outside, and Inside Joint customers.

The full rate schedule is below.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the City of Hagerstown.

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