Water Rates

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Utility Billing

Contact the Utility Billing team for questions about your water bill.

Email: utilities@stocktonca.gov

Phone: (209) 937-8295

After a series of public notices and meetings, the City Council adopted new water rates for the next five years at a Public Hearing on May 25, 2021. Water Use billed each month reflects water consumed in the prior month. The approved maximum water rate adjustments become effective July 1 of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Your water charges are calculated by adding a Monthly Service Charge (based on the size of your meter) plus the Water Consumption (based on usage).

Monthly Service Charge

Meter Size (inches)	Monthly Service
1" or smaller	$36.54
1.5"	$73.08
2"	$116.93
3"	$219.24
4"	$365.40
6"	$730.80
8"	$1,169.28
10"	$1,680.84
12"	$2,466.45

Water Consumption

Water is measured in units (one unit is 748 gallons) and pricing depends on the rate classification.

Single Family Rates

Water Use Tier 1 - Units 0 - 15: $2.58 per Unit
Water Use Tier 2 - Units 16 & over: $3.08 per Unit

Multi-Family Rates

Water Use Winter (October - April): $2.47 per Unit
Water Use Summer (May - September): $2.68 per Unit

Non-Residential Rates

Water Use Winter (October - April): $2.46 per Unit
Water Use Summer (May - September): $2.85 per Unit

Irrigation Rates

Water Use Winter (October - April): $2.58 per Unit
Water Use Summer (May - September): $3.00 per Unit

These rates became effective on July 1, 2023.

Utility Billing Customer Service

Water Rate Calculation

Stockton Water Rate Structure

The City's water rate structure includes a fixed charge and a consumption charge.

The fixed charge applies to all customer groups and is determined by the size of the meter serving the property. The fixed charge recovers a portion of the City’s fixed costs.
The consumption charge is based on the amount of water consumed for each property, measured in hundred cubic feet (“CCF”). One hundred cubic feet (1 CCF) is equivalent to 748 gallons of water.

Drought Recovery Charges

Drought Recovery Charges, previously known as "Drought Surcharges," are an additional charge per CCF that may be activated by a declared water shortage level pursuant to the City’s Urban Water Management Plan, such as a drought, a statewide order mandating water use reductions, or other natural disaster or event that results in a water shortage and an unforeseen drop in water demand.
Stages of Water Conservation are defined in the Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) 13.28, Water Conservation.

Private Fire Hydrant Service Charge and Private Fire Protection Service Charges

The City of Stockton applies a monthly Private Fire Hydrant Service Charge for hydrants that are specific to certain private businesses.
A monthly Private Fire Protection Service Charge is also applied on certain properties that have a private fire service meter.

Approved Adjustments to Water Rates

The City of Stockton provides the highest quality water at the lowest possible rates to more than 50,000 residential and commercial connections in north and south Stockton. To meet this commitment, the City hired independent rate consultant HDR Engineering, Inc. to prepare a cost-of-service analysis and Water Rate Study Report (2021 Water Rate Study) to support a new five-year rate schedule that:

Provides sufficient revenue to operate and maintain the City's water infrastructure and capital improvement projects;
Reflects prudent financial planning criteria;
Determines that rates are cost-based and equitable;
Reflects the findings of the revenue requirement and cost-of-service analyses; and
Meets the rate design goals and objectives of the City.

The 2021 Water Rate Study determines how customers equitably and fairly pay for the water services over a new five-year period.

Rate Adjustment Documents

Last Update : 12/12/2023, 9:42:03 PM