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Clean Water Services proposes 6.4% jump in Durham combined sewer and stormwater rates
Summary
Clean Water Services presented a cost-of-service study proposing Durham’s combined sanitary sewer and stormwater rate rise from $66.95 in 2026 to $71.23 in 2027 (a $4.28 monthly, 6.4% increase); CWS said local sanitary increases average about $2/month and outlined an April–June adoption schedule with implementation on July 1, 2026.
Clean Water Services Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Leader presented a cost-of-service study to the Durham City Council on March 24 that would raise the average monthly combined sanitary sewer and stormwater bill for Durham customers from $66.95 in 2026 to $71.23 in 2027, a $4.28-per-month increase (6.4 percent). Leader said the proposed change reflects a review of how costs are allocated between regional and local services that began in 2021.
Leader told the council that "Durham’s average monthly residential combined sanitary sewer and stormwater rate was $66.95 in 2026 and was proposed to increase to $71.23 in 2027, a $4.28 monthly increase, or 6.4 percent." She and other CWS representatives explained that Durham customers pay both regional rates (covering treatment plants, large infrastructure and regulatory work) and local rates (for services such as sewer cleaning, inspections, street sweeping and stormwater maintenance). CWS staff said the local sanitary sewer and stormwater rate components have not fully covered program costs, requiring use of reserves to avoid steeper short-term increases; the local sanitary portion was described as roughly $2 per month.
CWS staff emphasized that projected future rates could change and described strategies to moderate increases, including limiting staffing growth, smoothing capital spending and drawing on reserves while planning to gradually rebuild them as major capital investments proceed. The presentation included a rate-adoption timeline: board action on methodology and reserve policy scheduled for April 14, budget review in May, final rate adoption in June, and implementation on July 1, 2026. Councilor Gary Paul asked for clarification about the comparison chart showing other cities; CWS confirmed Durham’s 2027 proposal was compared to other cities’ 2026 rates pending their own budget processes.
The council did not take a formal vote at the work session. CWS representatives also noted the start of a utility billing feasibility study that could include customer assistance options; details and any program design were described as forthcoming.
