Harford Proposes New Water & Sewer Rates; Efficiencies Lower Increases

Harford County is proposing new rates for its public water & sewer system customers over the next five years with lower annual increases than in the past five years. Legislation specifying the new rates for residential and business customers has been sent to the County Council, which will hold public hearings and vote to finalize the new rate schedule.

For typical residential customers, rates grew by 4.5% in each of the past five years; the new schedule reduces the annual increases to 4.2%.

The proposed new rates were developed based on an independent cost-of-service analysis by Arcadis, a global consulting firm with expertise in analyzing water & sewer system rates.

Harford’s public water & sewer system operates as a non-profit “enterprise fund” activity – meaning that it is paid for by users, not by general taxpayers, and that rates must be set to just cover all system expenses.

Current rates for Harford County customers rank third-lowest among 12 neighboring public water systems. Under the proposed new rates, the cost of delivering safe, high-quality water to a typical customer’s tap remains less than 1¢ per gallon. The total cost of water delivery plus collection and treatment of wastewater after use remains about 2¢ per gallon.

The Harford system’s primary cost drivers include energy, chemicals, increasing regulation, and worker costs, all which have risen faster than inflation. System expenses include the cost of maintaining aging infrastructure to prevent major breaks and service disruptions.

Overall efficiencies and prudent fiscal management have offset some of the rising expenses, allowing for the new five-year rate schedule at a reduced rate of increase. If approved, it will take effect on July 1, 2025.