Resources
Rates and Fees
Central Alabama Water strives to create transparency around how your water bill is calculated. This page provides all the details you need to understand exactly how our rates and fees combine to make up your water bill.
Water Rates
Central Alabama Water’s infrastructure improvement plan identifies dozens of major projects. These include replacing aging water mains, improving filter plants, water supply, and drinking water distribution infrastructure, advancing information technology, reinforcing security, upgrading buildings and ongoing maintenance and repairs.
With rapidly changing technology, aging infrastructure and new regulations, the cost of running a complex water system continues to rise. All of our costs, including day-to-day operations and unplanned work, are paid for solely by rates and fees, not taxes. Our operating rules require that we only charge customers for the cost of providing service.
Central Alabama Water’s water rates have been increasing at a slower rate than other water rates nationally. Our rate increases are comparable to other major water utility rates.
Water rates will be in effect on January 1, 2026.
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Residential and Irrigation Rate Structure
Central Alabama Water’s residential and irrigation rates are based on how much water you use. It is designed to keep water affordable for residential customers and to encourage efficiency for customers who use water solely for irrigation.
Monthly Base Service Charge for Residential Customers
This charge helps recover certain fixed costs, including:
- Meter reading, billing, collection and customer service costs
- A portion of fixed operational costs
- A portion of debt service costs
The base service charge covers the cost of providing the infrastructure and facilities required to serve customers around the clock, whether water is used or not.
| METER SIZE (INCHES) | BASE SERVICE CHARGE |
| 5/8 | $28.49* |
| 3/4 | $37.78 |
| 1 | $56.87 |
| 1 1/2 | $102.91 |
| 2 | $161.11 |
| 3 | $340.73 |
| 4 | $513.87 |
| 6 | $988.45 |
| 8 | $1,556.08 |
| 10 | $2,212.03 |
* Typical Residential Meter Size
Variable Water Rates for Residential Customers
Residential customers are charged variable rates depending on the total CCF used. A CCF is the unit of measure your water meter reads and stands for one hundred cubic feet of water, which is equal to 748 gallons.
Rates are broken into three tiers. The Tier 1 rate is charged for consumption up to 3 CCF. The Tier 2 rate is charged for consumption levels 4 CCF to 15 CCF. The Tier 3 rate is charged to all consumption greater than 15 CCF. For example, if your consumption for the month was 6 CCF, then you would be charged 3 CCF at the Tier 1 rate and 3 CCF at the Tier 2 rate.
The rate structure includes variable charges based on water use and a monthly base charge related to the size of your water meter.
| TIER | MONTHLY BILLING CYCLE CONSUMPTION | RATE PER CCF |
| 1 | 1 to 3 ccf | $2.96 |
| 2 | 4 to 12 ccf | $4.91 |
| 3 | Greater than 12 ccf | $8.58 |
Commercial Rate Structure
Commercial customers are charged a uniform rate per CCF of water use per monthly billing cycle. In addition to variable charges based on water use, the rate structure also includes a monthly base charge that relates to the size of your water meter.
Monthly Base Service Charge for Commercial Customers
| METER SIZE (INCHES) | BASE SERVICE CHARGE |
| 5/8 | $28.49 |
| 3/4 | $37.78 |
| 1 | $56.87 |
| 1 1/2 | $102.91 |
| 2 | $161.11 |
| 3 | $340.73 |
| 4 | $513.87 |
| 6 | $988.45 |
| 8 | $1,556.08 |
| 10 | $2,212.03 |
Water Rates for Commercial Customers
| MONTHLY BILLING CYCLE COMSUMPTION | RATE PER CCF |
| Per ccf | $4.69 |
Wholesale Customer Rates
Wholesale customer accounts with a base service charge will be charged monthly for the amount agreed upon or for the water used for that month — whichever is greater.
| MONTHLY BILLING CYCLE COMSUMPTION | RATE PER CCF |
| Per ccf | $3.90 |
Sewer Rates
Central Alabama Water does not provide sewer services; however, we do bill for sewer service for Jefferson County Environmental Services, City of Hoover Sewer Services, Southwest Water Utility Company, City of Moody Governmental Utility Services Corporation and Phoenix Water Resources LLC. Download the full Central Alabama Water Ratebook, including sewer rates for Jefferson County, Hoover, Southwest Water Company and Phoenix Water.
For questions regarding the sewer service portion of your bill or for any sewer service problems, please call your sewer service provider:
Jefferson County Environmental Services
Southwest Water Utility Company
City of Moody Governmental Utility Services Corporation
Phoenix Water Resources LLC
Fire Service Connection and Hydrant Fees
Central Alabama Water maintains a pumping, distribution and storage system with the capacity to deliver enough water to buildings for their fire sprinkler systems.
Fire service fees are charged for buildings and facilities with fire sprinkler systems that have special water pipes connected to our water distribution system. The fee pays for this service and provides these buildings with an improved level of fire protection. The fee is charged annually and is based on the size of the pipe feeding the building’s sprinkler system.
Similarly, Central Alabama Water charges annually for each municipal and public fire hydrant located on public streets.
Fire Service Connection Fee
A fire service connection fee is charged annually to buildings and facilities located on property other than public streets or roads. The fee is based on the size of the pipe connecting to our supply main and is subject to Special Service Agreement provisions. Fees are charged regardless of the type of fire protection device.
| PIPE SIZE (INCHES) | FEE |
| Less than 4 | $363.48 |
| 4 | $443.04 |
| 6 | $710.16 |
| 8 | $1,071.12 |
| 10 | $2,670.72 |
| 12 | $6,159.12 |
| 16 | $9,100.44 |
Municipal and Public Fire Hydrant Fees
Charged annually for fire hydrants on public streets.
| Per hydrant | $262.44 |
| Fire hydrant installation | $3,269.00 |
System Development and Connection Fees
To ensure our infrastructure can keep up with growing demand, Central Alabama Water charges a one-time System Development Fee for new buildings and new developments. This fee is in addition to the connection fee, which pays for the cost of physically connecting the new customer or development to the water distribution system.
To establish an account and request installation of a water meter and/or sewer connection for a newly built home or business, complete the Application for Service Connection Form.
| Tap Size (Inches) | System Development Fee | Connection Fee | Total |
| 1 | $1,000.00 | $768.00 | $1,768.00 |
| 2 | $5,890.00 | $3,246.0 | $9,136.00 |
| 4 | $16,450.00 | Actual Cost | Varies |
| 6 | $32,890.00 | Actual Cost | Varies |
| 8 | $52,630.00 | Actual Cost | Varies |
| 10 | $75,660.00 | Actual Cost | Varies |
