City water-cost research
Philadelphia Water & Sewer Rates: 2026 Charges and 2020 Comparison
When use stays flat, a higher water bill feels like paying more just to stand still. Philadelphia’s layered charges can make it hard to see where that extra cost comes from. Here is how the selected rates have changed, what that means for a property budget, and where Flumera can help you look for savings.
The selected rate
What does water and sewer cost in Philadelphia?
$18.13 per 1,000 gallons for the selected usage-price reference, effective Sep 1, 2026. View the utility’s current schedule.
First 2 Mcf of monthly metered water use plus regular sewer, including contemporaneous TAP-R. Fixed meter service, stormwater and account-specific adjustments are excluded. Higher water blocks differ.
The cost of standing still
The same 10,000 gallons. More money out of the property.
At the selected rates, the usage charge for this unchanged volume rises from $103.48 to $181.32. That is $77.84 more for the same billed gallons.
- At the 2020 reference
- $103.48
- At the current reference
- $181.32
- Difference for this period
- $77.84
How this example is calculated
Gallons ÷ 1,000 × the selected combined price per 1,000 gallons. Volume is held constant; no savings, annual usage, inflation adjustment, or installation cost is assumed. These are selected snapshots, not a complete annual history. Example charges are rounded to cents before their difference is calculated.
A higher expense can be hard to explain from the bill alone
An owner sees the amount due. Explaining why it grew takes more work: Philadelphia’s bill combines water quantity blocks, sewer charges and TAP-R with other account charges. Keeping consumption steady can still leave the property paying more for the same selected usage.
The unit matters here. PWD defines 1 Mcf as 1,000 cubic feet, or 7,480 gallons. The first water block covers 2 Mcf per month: 14,960 gallons. The example above stays inside that block so it can show the cost of standing still without treating the first-block price as the rate for an entire large building.
A useful savings plan follows the way your bill works
The 2020 comparison includes contemporaneous water and sewer TAP-R in both periods. Higher monthly water blocks have different per-unit prices. Those details matter when you turn a headline increase into a property budget or a savings estimate.
For an apartment, hotel or commercial property, the useful starting point is one actual bill. Separate the charges that move with metered use from fixed meter service, stormwater and account-specific adjustments. Then price a lower-volume scenario through the same rules. That is how the conversation moves from frustration with a rising bill to an opportunity worth investigating.
Where Flumera fits
How Flumera can help protect your operating budget
For a Philadelphia owner, the goal is a lower recurring expense that makes sense against the actual bill. Flumera starts with the parts of the account that change with metered volume, then evaluates whether its valve is a suitable way to pursue a measurable reduction.
Flumera’s valve is designed to compress entrained air in the water service line. Where entrained air affects meter registration, addressing it may create an opportunity to reduce billed volume. The site assessment reviews your utility bills, meter and pipe details, and operating conditions to establish whether the valve is a suitable fit.
We use your building’s inputs to model savings, equipment cost and payback. That gives you a property-specific decision to evaluate before committing to an installation.
Current rates and the 2020 reference
Philadelphia Water Department · General metered monthly water quantity blocks plus regular sewer, including contemporaneous TAP-R.
| Component | 2020 reference Oct 1, 2020 | Current Sep 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Water | $6.07 | $10.50 |
| Sewer | $4.28 | $7.63 |
| Combined | $10.35 | $18.13 |
First 2 Mcf monthly water block plus regular sewer, including TAP-R; excludes fixed meter, stormwater and account adjustments.
Selected usage-rate change from the prior reference: +7.3%. Prior reference: Sep 1, 2025. This is a rate comparison, not the change in a customer’s full bill.
Start with the bill you are paying today
- Read the bill’s Mcf consumption and monthly service dates before converting units.
- Apply the first 2 Mcf water block only to the volume in that block; price higher blocks separately.
- Include contemporaneous water and sewer TAP-R on both sides of a historical comparison.
- Separate meter service, stormwater, credits and any account-specific wastewater charges.
These details help turn a rising expense into a savings plan you can evaluate against the property’s actual operating costs.
Common questions
Does this page include a verified 2020 reference?
Yes. The comparison uses PWD’s official tariff effective October 1, 2020, including water and sewer TAP-R for the stated benchmark. It is not a reconstructed average household bill.
Can I apply this per-gallon price to an entire apartment building?
Not without checking the monthly water blocks. This benchmark represents the first 2 Mcf of water plus regular sewer; a larger property needs the full water block schedule and its other bill charges.
Would using less water reduce every bill charge?
No. This guide isolates usage charges. Fixed meter service, stormwater and account-specific adjustments require separate treatment when modeling the effect of lower metered use.
Sources and comparison basis
The utility schedules below document the prices and billing rules used in this guide. Dates show when a tariff took effect and when its source was reviewed. Use your current bill to confirm how those rules apply to your property.
Current rates
2020 reference
- Philadelphia official October 2020 tariff2020 reference
Other historical evidence
- Philadelphia official September 2025 tariffOther historical evidence · 2025-09-01
Find out what Flumera could save your building
Higher rates are already changing the cost of the same billed water. The next step is to see whether Flumera can help reduce your building’s recurring expense. Start with your utility bill and service-line details; we will review fit and model the opportunity for your property.