Rates & Fees

All revenue from the city’s water and wastewater (sewer) rates and charges are used exclusively for the recovery of costs associated with providing water and sewer services, and to fund system maintenance and capital improvements.

In addition to funding operation and maintenance of the City’s water system, adjustments to rates are necessary to recover pass-through cost increases from Metropolitan Water and the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) for raw water and fixed service charges. Adjustments to sewer rates are necessary to recover pass-through cost increases from San Diego Metro, where the City’s wastewater is treated and discharged into the ocean.

Current Water and Wastewater Rates

The Poway City Council held a public hearing and approved five-year rates for water, recycled water, and wastewater (sewer) on January 20, 2026. The approved City of Poway's water, recycled water, and sewer rates are updated annually in January of each year from 2026 through 2030. All rate changes are reflected on bill statements mailed to customers beginning in January each year of the effective five-year rate period.

Rates are approved through calendar year 2030. To view the current and future rates for water and sewer service, view the Water/Wastewater Rates table for more information.

Uniform Volumetric Water Rates

Recent court rulings, including in San Diego County, have successfully challenged the validity of tiered water rates. The City therefore approved moving to a uniform water rate structure as a more equitable and legally defensible structure. This change results in the application of a uniform volumetric charge for each unit of water used, replacing the previous tiered rate structure in which consumption exceeding each tier’s maximum allocation was billed at a higher rate.  This change is being implemented beginning with bimonthly water bills mailed on or after January 21, 2026.

Bill Calculator

Bill Estimator (Excel)Estimate your residential water bill for 2026-2030. Customers may download the Bill Estimator Excel file to determine an estimate for residential water service through 2030.

Water / Wastewater Rate Resources

The notice of the public hearing was mailed to Poway customers on November 20, 2025 to 15,946 property owners with municipal water and/or wastewater service. To comply with the rules of Prop 218 (passed by California voters in 1996), the City is required to provide written notice to property owners with water and/or wastewater service by mail of the proposed property-related fee or charge at least 45 days prior to the public hearing.

Utility-Related Fees

For other services such as Restoration of Service, After-Hours Restoration, and Tag Fees, please refer to the table below.

ServiceFee
After-Hours Restoration Fee on Weekdays after 3:30pm, closed Fridays, or Saturdays**$70
After-Hours Restoration Fee on Sundays or Holidays**$86
Hydrant Meter Billing / Closing Account$96
Meter Testing$70
Returned Check / Payment$25
Tag Fee$32
Turn-off /Restoration of Service - Regular Business Hours$54
Damaged Lock Fee- Tampering with/or breaking the lock$84

**The After-Hours Restoration Fee is in addition to the Turn-off/Restoration of Service Fee. This fee must be paid the following business day no later than 9 a.m. at the Customer Services Division located at City Hall to avoid an interruption in service.